The United States has a long history of fighting for the rights of workers, and Labor Day is a major landmark for the country’s assertion of labor rights. Labor Day always falls on the first Monday of September: check out our previous article on Labor Day for more information about the history of the holiday (particularly how important New York was to the movement!) and how this placement was chosen. It is often considered the unofficial end of summer (the official end being September 22, 2024, the fall equinox).
Naturally, Labor Day has its origins in the American labor movement, in which workers across the nation organized and fought against unfair wages, hazardous working conditions, and other abusive practices by employers and the current laws that failed to support and protect them. Their efforts earned workers rights and protections such as legalizing and empowering unions, the eight-hour workday and weekends off, and laws against child labor.
While there is some debate over which major labor union leader of the time was responsible for proposing a holiday to celebrate workers, the idea was popular enough to already be celebrated as a public holiday in several states before President Grover Cleveland signed it into law as a federal holiday on June 28, 1984, possibly in a move to earn himself points with the working class.
New York City’s annual Labor Day Parade will be held Saturday, September 7, starting at 10:00 AM EST at 44th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Because it is a federal holiday, expect government buildings and banks to be closed and businesses to be either closed or operating on limited hours. Many schools are either closed or do not come back into session at all until after Labor Day.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us anytime at info@gravityintprog.com. Stay safe and healthy!
