Labor Day History
Chris Tunney
September 04, 2026
September 04, 2026
Labor Day is a U.S. federal holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor the achievements of American workers.
Origins and First Parade
- The First March: On September 5, 1882, about 10,000 workers took unpaid leave to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City.
- The Date Choice: Early organizers chose early September because it fell halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
- The Founders: Historians still debate who truly proposed the holiday, splitting credit between Peter J. McGuire (cofounder of the American Federation of Labor) and Matthew Maguire (secretary of the Central Labor Union).
Becoming a Federal Holiday
- State Recognition: Oregon was the first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day on February 21, 1887. Other states followed soon after.
- The Pullman Strike: In May 1894, a violent railway strike involving the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago resulted in the deaths of over a dozen workers after federal troops were sent in.
- Federal Law: To mend ties with the American labor force, President Grover Cleveland signed an act on June 28, 1894, making Labor Day an official federal holiday.
- Why Not May 1? The U.S. government avoided May 1 (May Day) because of its socialist origins and its ties to the violent Haymarket Affair of 1886 in Chicago.
Below, is a link with more info about Labor Day. Stay safe and enjoy the weekend siblings!