In 1897, President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday. By then 30 states already celebrated this day for laborers. Over the next 100 years many benefits were fought for like pensions, the right to organize and strike, income equality, access to health care from employers, fair hours as in the 40 hour versus 60 hour work week.
It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers.
Original celebrations included a parade followed by a festival for the workers and their families.
Today we celebrate a three day weekend, end of summer BBQ, retail sales second only to Black Friday, and the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons.
Seems to me like we’ve taken a backslide on the hard won benefits for American workers and settled with a three day weekend.
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