What Is Labor Day?
Celebrated on the first Monday of September every year, Labor Day, is intended to “pay tribute…to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”
Most sources agree it started in the late 19th century, at a time when the average American employee worked 18-20 hours a day, seven days a week.
As manufacturing became the main job during the Industrial Revolution, tens of thousands of workers rallied and protested against poor working conditions, low wages and long hours.One such event led thousands of New York City workers to take unpaid time off in order to march in protest. This event is widely considered the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.
America is not alone in recognizing the importance of its workers. Countries all over the world celebrate the first of May every year as a national, public holiday commonly referred to as “International Workers’ Day,” or “Labour Day,”. Canada celebrates alongside America on the first Monday of September.
Premiere salutes all our team members and the American worker nationwide.