North Carolina, Raleigh – Although Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st in almost every country in the world, the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada commemorate the so-called “Labor Day” the first Monday in September of all the years.
This 2024, “Labor Day” will be celebrated on Monday, September 1st; being a official holiday In the United States calendar, there is no work.
What is “Labor Day”?
According to the United States Department of Labor, 'Labor Day' is an annual celebration to commemorate the social and economic achievements of American workers.
The festival, also known as “Labor Day” , has its roots in the late 19th century in the United States.
According to what historians mention, labor activists pushed for a federal holiday that recognized the contributions that workers had made to the prosperity, strength and well-being of the American nation.
Before the first Monday in September was recognized as a federal holiday, Labor Day in the United States was already considered by labor activists, and also by individual states, as a celebration of the achievements and contributions of workers to obtain better working conditions, shorter working hours, and fairer wages.
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Oregon, the first state to recognize Labor Day
The official history of the celebration of “Labor Day” in the United States begins in Oregon.
This state, located on the east coast, was the first to officially celebrate Labor Day; but not the pioneer in the initiative.
New York was the first state in the United States to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, February 21, 1887.
During 1887, four more states (Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York) passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday.
By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit.
By 1894, 23 states in the American Union had adopted the holiday.
On June 28, 1894, the United States Congress passed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday to celebrate workers.
Happy worker's day! En Enlace Latino NC We want to highlight and celebrate the efforts of all workers, especially migrants. We share the story of Luis, a Mexican from Oaxaca, who now owns “Tequio Foods” , a business that imports corn into the United States. It is an inspiring example of community work and success!
Who was the founder of Labor Day?
Records show that in 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Carpenters' Guild and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a day for a “general holiday for the working classes.”
This, to honor those “who by rude nature have dug and sculpted all the greatness we behold.”
But many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday.
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'The Pen of Remembrance'
Recent research appears to support the claim that Matthew Maguire, who later was secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, proposed the holiday in 1882.
This, while he served as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.
According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that “The souvenir pen must go to Councilman Matthew Maguire of this city, the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday.” .
Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country's first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.
Why is it not celebrated on May 1st?
History and facts coincide that the origin of the Labor Day celebration arises in the United States; and not in the month of September, but during the month of May.
And this is in tribute to the "Chicago Martyrs," a group of anarchist trade unionists who were executed in 1886 in the United States for raising labor demands.
The center of the events took place in Haymarket Square, in Chicago, on May 1, 1986, a large march was organized by workers who were fighting for an eight-hour work day, since their days were up to 18 hours long. .
The labor movement in the United States gained momentum as unions formed and strikes took place across the country.
One of the most important milestones in the fight for labor rights was the steel workers' strike in 1889, known as the Haymarket strike .
This strike marked a pivotal moment in the history of the labor movement and laid the foundation for the celebration of Labor Day.
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Why does the United States celebrate Labor Day in September?
In 1887, US President Grover Cleveland established Labor Day in September as an official holiday on the calendar.
Historians agree that the reason why President Cleveland decided to celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September, It was to prevent May 1st from serving as a glorification of the so-called “Chicago martyrs.”
Labor Day in 2025
Today, Labor Day remains an important holiday in the United States, bringing the end of summer and providing a well-deserved rest to workers.
“Labor Day” invites us to reflect on the achievements of workers and to recognize their simulator in society. In addition, it is also a time to remember the importance of continuing to fight for fair and equitable working conditions around the world.
In short, Labor Day in the United States is a celebration rooted in the history of labor struggle, recognizing and honoring the achievements of workers and their contribution to the progress of society.
It is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of work and continue the fight for fair and equitable working conditions for all.
Labor Day and immigrant workers
Some data about the Latino workforce in North Carolina
According to the report of New American Economy, the growth of the immigrant population has helped strengthen the American workforce.
As baby boomers retire, younger immigrants are filling crucial gaps in the market.
Main occupations with the highest proportion of foreign-born workers
- Agricultural workers 52,2%
- Painters and paper changers 47,3%
- Carpenters 36,1%
- Software developers 35,0%
- Construction workers 33,8%
- STEM workers who are immigrants 18,1%
- Foreign-born nurses 6,8%
- Health assistants born abroad 7.0%
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