For many Americans, Labor Day means the end of summer and a three-day weekend. Family and friends across the country gather for backyard barbeques. Retailers offer deep discounts, and the fall campaign season kicks into high gear. While this may be the Labor Day we have come to recognize, the official “workingmen’s holiday” has an interesting history dating back to the 1880s.

Although there is some debate as to who is the father of Labor Day, most historians trace the holiday’s beginning back to the parade of unions and a massive picnic that took place in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882. Earlier that year, a proposal was put forth at a Central Labor Union meeting that all workers should come together in September for a massive labor festival. That August, the Central Labor Union passed a resolution stating “that the 5th of September be proclaimed a general holiday for the workingmen in this city.”

Despite reportedly selling 20,000 tickets to the event, the parade got off to a slow and uncertain start. With just a few marchers and no band, onlookers began suggesting the parade’s Grand Marshall, William McCabe, abandon the idea. Not to be discouraged, McCabe and a small group of workers began marching even as the crowds jeered at them. Fortunately, they did not have to wait long before 200 marchers from the Jewelers Union of Newark Two joined in, and they even had a band.   

By the time the parade reached its termination point at Reservoir Park that day, it is said that somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 men and women had marched. The celebration continued until 9 p.m. that evening, with nearly 25,000 union members and their families enjoying picnics, speeches, dancing and fireworks. Calling it a true “day of the people,” newspapers declared the celebration a huge success.

From that day on, the idea of formally honoring our workforce spread quickly throughout the country. On June 28, 1894 the 53rd Congress passed a bill officially making Labor Day a legal holiday to take place each year on the first Monday in September.

In the spirit of Labor Days past, and as we look to the future, I encourage you to think about how far our workforce has come since that September day in 1882. Think about the technology that has made our jobs easier and safer. Think about the rights we enjoy and all the men and women who fought for those rights.

Work is an important part of lives. It is the means by which we provide for ourselves and our families. Our work can also be a source of validation and fulfillment, and it allows us to continue acquiring knowledge and learning new skills long after we have left the classroom. I would sincerely like to thank everyone for the work they have contributed, and I hope you had a very enjoyable Labor Day weekend.   

As always, I appreciate it when groups from around Missouri and from our community back home come to visit me at the Capitol, however during interim I may be in district. If you would like to arrange a time to come and visit me in Jefferson City, or if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office at (573) 751-1882.