Labor Day: More than just the end of summer
By Rosanna Wakley
Knightly News Reporter
For many Americans, Labor Day means a long weekend, backyard barbecues and the unofficial end of summer.
But behind the sales and parades lies a history shaped by struggle, solidarity and a fight for fairness in the workplace.
More than parades and cookouts
The first Labor Day celebrations were far more than a day off. On Sept. 5, 1882, thousands of workers in New York City marched in the streets, organized by the Central Labor Union. It was a bold move—participants risked their jobs to demand shorter hours, safer conditions and better pay. At the time, 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, were common. The labor movement’s pressure helped secure the eight-hour workday that many Americans now take for granted.
Early Labor Days blended activism with festivity. Families would dress in their best clothes, bands played patriotic music, and union leaders delivered fiery speeches about the dignity of work and the promise of fair treatment. It was a protest and a party; a chance to highlight the struggles of the working class while celebrating the pride of labor.
Today, those parades occur in some cities, but for most Americans, the traditions look different. Barbecues, shopping sales and one last summer getaway dominate the long weekend. Yet the holiday’s intent remains the same: to carve out a day that honors the people who keep the country running.
The Pullman Strike: A turning point
Labor Day’s path to becoming a national holiday is closely tied to one of the most significant labor disputes in U.S. history—the Pullman Strike of 1894.
The conflict began in Pullman, Illinois, where the Pullman Co. built luxury railroad cars and owned much of the town where its workers lived. During an economic depression, the company cut wages by nearly 25 percent but did not reduce rents or prices in the company-owned housing and stores. Workers quickly found themselves unable to cover basic living expenses.
In May 1894, employees walked off the job, and the strike soon spread nationwide. The American Railway Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, supported the workers by refusing to handle any trains that included Pullman cars. This paralyzed much of the country’s rail system, disrupting mail delivery and commerce.
The federal government, citing the disruption of mail and interstate commerce, sent troops to break the strike. Clashes between soldiers and strikers turned violent. By the end, more than two dozen people were killed and hundreds injured.
Public opinion was divided. Many sympathized with the workers’ plight, but others feared the strike showed labor unions had too much power. For President Grover Cleveland, who had just ordered troops into the conflict, declaring Labor Day a federal holiday was partly an olive branch to organized labor and the working class. Congress passed the law unanimously, and Cleveland signed it just six days after the strike ended.
Work in perspective
Much has changed since that first march in 1882. The standard 40-hour workweek was officially established in 1938 under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Union membership, once the backbone of the movement, has declined, but the federal government says that about 14 and a half million U.S. workers still belong to a union—which is about one in nine workers. And even as workplace laws have improved, the fight for fairness continues. In 2023, 789,000 U.S. hourly workers earned less that the federal minimum hourly rate of $7.25, according to the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 81,000 earned exactly that rate, the bureau said.
Labor Day serves as a reminder that the protections many take for granted overtime pay, child labor restrictions, safe workplaces, were won only after decades of organizing, strikes and sometimes, violence.
Ways to honor Labor Day
For college students, the holiday can be more than just a break from classes. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what labor means in their lives, whether through part-time jobs, internships or campus leadership roles. Honoring Labor Day can take many forms:
- Learning about the history of labor rights and how they shaped modern work.
- Supporting workers by shopping local, tipping generously or advocating for fair pay.
- Volunteering at community organizations that serve working families.
- Staying informed on emerging issues like gig work, remote employment and workplace equity.
Fun facts you might not know
- Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official public holiday, in 1887.
- Union leaders are often credited with helping shape the modern two-day weekend.
- For decades, Labor Day marked the unofficial fashion deadline for wearing white, a custom rooted in class distinctions.
Looking forward Labor Day may wrap up the summer season, but its roots remind us of that work—and the fight to make it fair—never really takes a holiday. As the workplace continues to evolve, so too will the meaning of this day. For students and workers alike, it is a celebration of progress and a call to keep asking: What does fair work look like in the future?
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and this blog’s editor, Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
