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Labor Day is a special day that honors America’s workers. There is no shortage of holidays in the United States, but few have the impact of Labor Day. While some see it as just another summer holiday, there’s so much more to this day than meets the eye. In order to celebrate this important day and all the workers who make our country great, here are five reasons why Labor Day matters to you.
In the early days of the United States, working conditions were poor. Child labor was rampant, and many workers were abused and underpaid. Today, work environments are much better thanks to labor organizations like the National Labor Union (NLU) and many state and federal laws that provide protections for workers. The Labor Management Act of 1935 gave workers the right to form unions and bargain for better working conditions and pay. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave African-American workers the right to organize and secure better working conditions. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 gave all foreign workers the right to organize and secure better working conditions. All of these laws helped create better working conditions that are still in effect today.
Labor Day was created in 1887 by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) to honor workers and recognize the sacrifices they made for better working conditions. The holiday became official in the year 1894 when it was added to the Social Security Act, which was passed by Congress in the same year. The AFL chose the first Monday in September as Labor Day because it was the end of the harvest season in the Midwest. It was a time when many farm workers were laid off, and the holiday was designed to transition them into new jobs as the new industrial work year started.
Labor Day is also a time to reflect on how workers have changed the United States. From the abolishment of child labor to the creation of safer working conditions, workers have increased the quality of life of people in the U.S. Labor unions helped create laws that protected children and teenage workers from hazardous working conditions, and many organizations still advocate for better protections for children who work today. Unions also helped create laws that protected against discrimination based on race and gender, which allowed people of all backgrounds to join the work force. Unions also advocated for better pay, which meant workers didn’t have to choose between living comfortably and being able to afford necessities like food and shelter.
Most American businesses opt to celebrate Labor Day with great sales and deals, especially on clothing and appliances. Many retailers offer markdowns on clothes and appliances to celebrate the end of the summer and the start of fall. There are also often coupons and special deals available at chain restaurants. Some businesses choose to celebrate the holiday with other activities. One large grocery chain has a long-standing tradition of having employees harvest peaches from their orchards. Another chain gives their employees a day off with pay to celebrate the holiday.
Labor Day is, above all, a day to appreciate the workers who make our lives better. Whether they are farmers, factory workers, or office employees, workers make our world a better place. Every one of the workers who have contributed to our country’s history deserve recognition. Without them, our lives would be very different. Although technology and automation have decreased the number of workers needed in some areas, the people who remain still contribute a great deal to our lives. Many industries still rely on human hands to produce goods and services. We owe them a debt of gratitude for the work they do.
Labor Day is a special day for all workers. While some see it as just another summer holiday, there’s so much more to this day than meets the eye. In order to celebrate this important day and all the workers who make our country great, here are five reasons why Labor Day matters to you. From the abolishment of child labor to the creation of safer working conditions, workers have increased the quality of life of people in the U.S. Labor unions also helped create laws that protected against discrimination based on race and gender, which allowed people of all backgrounds to join the work force. All of these laws helped create better working conditions that are still in effect today. We owe it to workers to celebrate Labor Day and appreciate all they do.
