…for both the United States and Canada.
United States Labor Day History:
- Within the United States, Labor Day is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It’s a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It also constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.
- Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union as well as the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City, 1882. However, after the Haymarket Massacre, (Chicago, May 4, 1886), President Cleveland feared that celebrating Labor Day on May 1st could become an opportunity to commemorate the aforementioned incident. Consequently, in 1887, Labor Day was established as an official holiday in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.
Canada Labour Day History:
- The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to April 15, 1872, when the Toronto Trades Assembly organized Canada’s first significant demonstration for worker’s rights. The aim of the demonstration was to release the twenty-four leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union who were imprisoned for striking to campaign for a nine-hour working day. At this time, trade unions were still illegal and striking was seen as a criminal conspiracy to disrupt trade. In spite of this, the Toronto Trades Assembly was already a significant organization and encouraged workers to form trade unions, mediated in disputes between employers and employees and signaled the mistreatment of workers.
- There was an enormous amount of public support for the parade, and the authorities could no longer deny the important role that the trade unions had to play in the emerging Canadian society. Several months later, a similar parade was organized in Ottawa and passed the house of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John Macdonald. Later that the day, he appeared before the gathering and promised to repeal all Canadian laws against trade unions. This happened in the same year and eventually led to the founding of the Canadian Labour Congress in 1883.
- Labour Day was originally celebrated in the spring; it was moved to the fall after 1894. From Canada’s Labour Day sprung, America’s Labor Day; held on the same day annually. Canadian trade unions are proud that this holiday was inspired by their efforts to improve workers’ rights.
- (Many other countries also have a holiday to celebrate workers’ rights; those celebrations are generally held on, or around, May 1st).
