Labour Day

The movement for a national Labor Day gained momentum as individual states adopted labor celebrations during the 1880s. Oregon became the first state to recognize Labor Day as a public holiday in 1887, and other states soon followed. In the aftermath of the 1894 Pullman Strike, a major nationwide railroad conflict marked by federal intervention and violence, President Grover Cleveland and Congress sought to improve relations with organized labor. Congress passed legislation making Labor Day a federal holiday, and President Cleveland signed it on June 28, 1894. Unlike May 1 celebrations in many other countries, the American holiday was placed in September to provide a distinct national observance and to avoid association with more radical international labor demonstrations.

Modern Labor Day celebrations combine remembrance of the nation’s labor history with leisure and retail activity. Speeches and educational programs may focus on union organizing, civil rights, workplace safety, minimum-wage campaigns, and the continuing importance of fair employment. The holiday is also associated with major sporting events, back-to-school preparations, travel, and seasonal sales. Common greetings include “Happy Labor Day!” and “Have a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend!”