Labor Day: Honoring and Remembering Workers’ Rights

Labor Day occurs on the first Monday in September as a national holiday. Labor Day has a long history of how it came to be a symbol of labor rights and freedom, all thanks to the workers of the past.  

Labor Day was not always acknowledged as an official federal holiday. Originally, it was celebrated by the earlier labor classes and by individual activists and states. The first celebration was in 1882, and it was organized by the Central Labor Union.  

Back then, the average worker was not always appreciated for their work. They were often exploited for their labor to industrialize the country. Many people, especially immigrants and women, were overworked and underpaid. It took many years of activists fighting for labor rights before the exploitation of workers started to be taken more seriously.  

Back in the late 1800’s, workers in many different industries across the nation advocated for better working conditions, rest breaks, and fair wages. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on a Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. The next year, the Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday, on September 5, 1883, and it brought much joy for the laborers in New York City. A decade later and by the beginning of 1894, 23 states were adopting the Labor Day holiday. So, on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday to celebrate Labor Day.  

Progress continued, and it was not until 1935 that congress passed the National Labor Relations Act which allowed the organizing of workers, strikes, and collective bargaining.  

Although the history of advocating for better labor rights was long and difficult, these efforts created better working conditions for the average worker. The dedication and activism of workers from the past helped lead to the human rights that modern-day workers have today. The changes they fought for have resulted in better working conditions, and laws protecting people from labor exploitation.  

Although workers’ rights have substantially improved over the last 130 years, today we still see forced labor and exploitation which shows up through the crime of labor trafficking. The business community has the power to help stop these modern-day labor abuses by training employees in human trafficking awareness, and by establishing anti-trafficking policies that take a firm stand against forced labor. Each Labor Day can be a good reminder for employers to train their staff in September in order to help stop human trafficking.  

Individual community members can also make a difference. For Labor Day 2024, BEST is asking individual donors to make a donation of $20.24 and consider becoming a monthly donor to help stop human trafficking in honor of Labor Day.