Labor Day ,,,,,How did it start?

[BigAl]

HistoryThe first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York.[1] The origins of Labor Day can be traced back to Canada when, in December 1872 a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week. Ten years later, American Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was asked to speak at a labour festival in Toronto, Canada on July 22, 1882. Returning to the United States, McGuire and the Knights of Labor organised a similar parade based on the Canadian event on September 5, 1882 in New York City, USA. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[2] The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair, which it had been observed to commemorate.[3] All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.


So there you go, some Labor History, and some poor Union Men died and that started it all.


Grover Cleveland was the sorry ole President who started it to reconcile some grievances with labor.

[eric in md]

  thanks al   have a great weekend everyone!

[DIGGER]

Do away with the Unions and once again we will be working 58hr work weeks.

[MacDragon]

Do away with the Unions and once again we will be working 58hr work weeks.

I already work 58 hr work weeks...     That's what I get for deciding a career as a Business Mgr. in the auto industry...  The paycheck is good, but the hours can wear on ya.

[old2soon]

The over the road drivers will get this. When all the union outfits started going under and went to the big over the road outfits more than one of them was told-now you get to put in 90 hours log 70 hours and get paid for 40 hours. Most over the road outfits are paid by the mile. Nothing by the hour for waiting. Lets just say i made decent money but it could have been a lot better. And i'm not anti union. BigAl-enjoyed the insight into the labor day holiday. The labor struggle has neve been easy anywhere. Those of you that are still in the workforce-enjoy your holiday. I'm still enjoying my retirement. RIDE SAFE YA'LL. Rather talk to ya than about ya.

[czuch]

Tragically the union where I work panders to the lowest echelon.
They went on strike for the wrong reasons and got nothing. I left the union because the representation was for a select few. I didnt want to pay enrich their coffers. They also tell the members how to vote, which I dont agree with at all. Left or right.
Also "right to work state".

[BigAl]

Over the road guys like I did for a short while.

Got paid by the mile.

But it's the little things that get you.

Like paying you from zone to zone not absolutely by the mile.

Furniture movers zones if I remember right.

But the Main Thing Is,,,,,, Happy Labor Day.

[Momz]

I heard some people call it "Socialist Day".
But the world is full of stupid people, as labor unions helped to create this nations "middle class".

[R J]

Back when I was working, I worked EVERY Holiday.........

Go figure.   I have also put in 15 hour days due to someones stupidity.

End of shift up in 30 minutes, you get a call on a fatal, you have to go work it, and do all the paper work, then you get to end your shift.   That is usually a 6 or 7 hour task, if you do it properly.

[Jeff K]

I work 60 hours a week now. But I don't mind. and the pay is exactly the same every week. 40 hours, 60 hours same pay.

The only union I've ever been in threw me under the bus because my father was in management.  So I swore off the thugs then and there.

I haven't required their services since I was 18 years old. and if you have ever sat through any "after hours" negotiations you'd know what they actually think of their members. It all comes out over a few cocktails. "it's just a job"

[Paxton]

WHAT???
I thought Labor Day was like memorial day but in remembrance of your mother's labor pains!

As to the long hours of Labor for the same pay; I thought it referred to labor pains from 15 to 30 hours for the same result;
your butt-ugly-ass face covered in fluids and your umbilical cord tied to the Valk! 

The whining 'bout the union... I thought it referred to your father's complaints about the state of his marital union,
especially after seen you suckin' up to your mother like a Mamma's Boy... while wrapped on a blanket.    Was he jealous or just creeped- out! 

Good grief...  Happy Labor Day to all mothers out there!