Labor Day: Laboring On. . .
Labor Day: Laboring On. . .
By Wes Hessel
Laboring On…
The calendar end of summer is generally considered Labor Day, the first Monday in September. But what is Labor Day? And what is labor? The idea of a holiday to recognize the organized labor movement was first proposed in 1882. There are two competing stories as to who was responsible, but was it McGuire or Maguire?
McG?
Some historians say Peter McGuire, then-vice president of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), is responsible for the holiday. It is said, McGuire, who had witnessed pro-labor parades in Toronto in May of that year, wanted to see something similar in New York. According to that narrative, Mr. McGuire pitched the recommendation to the New York City’s CLU (Central Labor Union) on May 8th. He said like in Canada, the celebration should begin with a labor street march, then finish up with a picnic. McGuire proposed that the participating labor organizations sell admission tickets to raise funds. He believed the first Monday in September was perfect for such a holiday. First, it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Second, the September date should insure ideal weather.
Or Mag?
Other historians point to a Knights of Labor General Assembly in the Big Apple as the genesis of the holiday. In conjunction with this convention, the New York CLU organized a parade in support of labor on September 5th, 1882. Some say CLU’s Secretary at the time, Matthew Maguire, suggested a national holiday recognizing labor. He suggested the new holiday be observed on the first Monday in September.
The Parade That Almost Wasn’t
That first “Labor Day” parade almost ended up being a non-event. Interested parties had gathered around City Hall in lower Manhattan, but initially there were more spectators and police than participants. William McCabe, the parade’s Grand Marshall, and his entourage were ready at 10 o’clock but there were no marchers and no band. Gathered onlookers suggested perhaps the procession should be called off. Mr. Maguire was said to have shown up in the nick of time, informing Mr. McCabe that a 200-person strong group from the Jewelers Union of Newark had just disembarked the ferry, with a band in tow.
Men Worth Their Metal
Those men of metal (and mettle) arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and things started to pick up fast. Bystanders became followers. The streets swelled with supporters, bringing the final tally to somewhere between 10 and 20 thousand marchers. When the parade reached its official end at Reservoir Park about noon, some broke away to return to their work. But many moved on to the picnic which awaited at Ninth and 92nd Street in Wendel’s Elm Park. The end of the parade was complete with orations, stogies, and of course, beer. Even more unions joined in celebration at the park. The partying picnickers eventually totaled 25,000.
May Day Or A September Date?
Some groups advocated for the internationally recognized May Day (May 1st), which eventually became International Workers’ Day. It is said others, including then-President Grover Cleveland, were concerned of the connection to stridently socialist and anarchist organizations. The last thing they wanted was to highlight the uprising of the Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4th, 1886, so a less controversial day was chosen.
Making It Official
Whichever way it came about, Labor Day started being recognized by cities and towns in 1885. It was first celebrated with parades and picnics to show support for the fledgling unions and other such groups organizing for better working conditions. While New York legislatures were the first to take up a bill making the holiday a state celebration, the original approval of the commemoration was by Oregon on February 21st, 1887. Later that year, four others – New York, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Jersey – followed suit. Three more – Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut – added it to their official calendars by 1890.
Federal Follow-Up
When Labor Day finally became a national holiday on June 28th, 1894, it was already law in 30 of the 44 states in the Union at that time. The initial federal legislation, only applied to federal employees. Even into the 1930’s labor organizations were calling on their members to push for the day off to be made official for all, resorting to striking if necessary.
What And Who Is Labor?
Just like Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, Labor Day has become a holiday where its true purpose has faded from the collective consciousness of our country. It’s basic intent is to celebrate labor and the people who do it – but what exactly is labor in today’s world of machines, computers and robots. Beyond the conventional definitions of trades and physical work, one could argue that labor is the work we do for compensation, no matter how, or for what purpose.
Steel, Tech, Power, Care, School, Staff…
The grueling work in a steel mill in Pittsburgh or Gary is hard physical labor. But so are the days spent in front of keyboards by programmers and technicians. Electricians labor away to keep those computers and other devices powered and connected. But let’s not forget, so is the time put in by child care workers to watch theirs and our children. Teachers strive to educate and open minds’ to innovate, but so also do the support staff, that keep up and improve our institutions, and deliver the resources required.
Keeping It Civil, Planned, Built, Ruled, and Protected…
Civil service men and women keep our towns, cities, counties, and states’ infrastructures running. But so does the labor of architects, designers, and other planners to chart the courses for the rehabilitation, enhancement, and expansion of those resources. And then there are the building tradespeople who demolish, erect, and renovate our structures. Legislative and executive government workers labor to make concrete the will of the people, but so do the legal, law enforcement, and military personnel who are on the job to see the rights defined are protected and served.
Healing, Growing, Grooming, Jamming, Selling, Hauling…
The medical workforce protects, corrects, and improves our health. But, we can’t forget so do agriculture, manufacturing, grocery, and food service workers labor to keep us fed. Beauty industry workers help us look our best, but journalists, entertainment providers, and their staffs also labor to keep us informed, motivated, and entertained. Shopkeepers and their employees provide the goods and services we need and want, but so do the workers of the transportation industries who bring what we need and want in finished goods and raw materials like the elements those steelworkers need to complete their metals.
Community, Corporate, Contractor, and Country Service
And one could then point out, how about the labor of the army of volunteers, whose work makes so much happen for non-profits and other organizations, like schools and places of worship? Without any of these people, we as a nation would suffer one way or another. So labor is one’s work for society, be it at home for a corporation, in an office for an organization, or on the ground in another location. We all perform labor, so let’s honor the efforts we all make, because it all has value. Please remember this on this Labor Day, and keep up the good work!
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2017/12/22/another-holiday-survival-plan/
