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Labor Day, celebrated in the United States and also in Canada (spelled Labour Day), have been held on the first Monday in September. The holiday originates in 1887, where in Oregon it was first celebrated. However, its roots are older and related to the wider international efforts by workers to celebrate a holiday. These worker movements were also affiliated with leftist political action, which has shaped the choosing of the date in the United States. The complex, often political history, of Labor Day has also shifted in recent periods.

====Origins of Labor Day====

Throughout the 1890s, a national movement to commemorate labor developed. The Pullman Strike in 1894 occurred due to reduction in pay for workers as well as high costs associated with the Pullman rail company housing provided to them at a cost. The Pullman Company controlled much of the freight rail at the time and had vast power but also became critical to the operations of the larger economy of the United States. A strike was seen as threatening the US wider economy, leading to the government sending federal troops to breakup the protests after the protesters refused a court order to disband (Figure 2). This attempt at breaking the strike led to riots and violence, which eventually did lead to the collapse of the strikes but also many deaths. In effect, the governments actions were effective but politically costly for then President Grover Cleveland.<ref>For more on the Pullman Strike and subsequent events, see: Stein, R.C. (2001) <i>The Pullman strike and the labor movement in American history</i>. In American history. Berkeley Heights, NJ, USA, Enslow Publishers.</ref>

The cost to the government was widespread discontent with how the strike was put down. Cleveland, along with Congress, proposed having a federal holiday to celebrate labor to gain some political support he may have lost, particularly from some of the trade unions. However, one stipulation for Cleveland was the date of the celebration be in September, that is the first Monday in September, as he wanted to avoid celebrating in May due to the events of Haymarket. Cleveland did not want the Haymarket events remembered and serve as a rallying cry for further demonstrations, strikes, or even political turmoil. Additionally, already the US government began to be wary of political movements sponsored by labor movements and what were socialist organizations. In effect, it was a holiday that put the US in similar footing to what happened elsewhere but with a specific avoidance of a day that the US government feared could become a rallying cry for other riots or even political action.<ref>For more on the choice of September for Labor day, see: Marianne Debouzy (ed.) (1992) <i>In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty: immigrents, workers, and citizens in the American republic, 1880-1920</i>. 1st University of Illinois Press ed. Urbana, University of Illinois Press, pg. 173.</ref>

Although Labor Day today is a Federal holiday, it is not mandated that all or most workers have the day off. Nevertheless, most employers in the United States recognize it as a holiday, although they are not required to make it a paid holiday. The ideas of Labor Day have not completely disappeared. It still holds significance particularly for those calling for increased minimum wage and other perceived injustice, although organized labor is far less influential today than in the late 19th century. This includes labor equality and calling for equal pay for men and women for similar roles.<ref>For modern movements on labor issues, see: Baldwin, R.E. (2003)<i> The decline of US labor unions and the role of trade</i>. Washington, D.C, Institute for International Economics.</ref>

====Summary====

Most official holidays in our calendar commemorate national or religious events. Labor day is a product of the Industrial Revolution, when organized labor and more radical movements began to organize against often appalling working conditions and low wages. The late 19th century witnessed several violent episodes where strikes were put down or economic disruption occurred. While many of the violent movements were put down, it was recognized something must be done to appease increasingly organized labor movements. With improved economic conditions, many forgot the reasons for why the day became established and today has mostly a symbolic meaning in the United States as the end of summer. Ironically events in the United States made May Day (May 1) an important date for organized labor internationally. For other countries, they have retained May 1 as the holiday for labor. In left-leaning states and governments, it is even seen as among the most important dates to celebrate.

====References====

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