by Kelsi Roth, Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator
Yesterday, September 2nd, we celebrated Labor Day in the United States and Canada. Many businesses are closed, and it’s a popular day for parades, fairs, and cookouts. But did you know that Labor Day has a long history and was established after a contentious period between laborers and employers? Here are some interesting facts about Labor Day and its history.
- Labor Day was created in celebration and support of unionized workers
- The first Labor Day parade took place in New York City in 1882
- The largest union today is the National Education Association, which has more than 3 million active, inactive, and lifetime members
- In Europe, working people are honored on May 1st, called May Day
- In 1887, Oregon became the first state to celebrate Labor Day as a legal holiday
- Unions and unionized workers are credited with the creation of the standard 8-hour workday, and the Monday through Friday work week
- The old adage “no white after labor day” was a reference to the fact that Labor Day was seen as the unofficial last day of the summer season, meaning all of the bright, light-colored clothing would be packed up for the winter
- The average U.S. worker commutes about 25.4 minutes to get to work
