How did Labor Day come into being

DaemonSeid · #1 09-07-2009, 11:20 AM

For most of us, Labor Day means backyard barbecues, weekend sales, and a last carefree day before school starts. But the laid-back holiday has some seriously sad history, including chaos, riots, and even death. Let us explain.

A tragic tale
Back in the days of the Industrial Revolution, workers were expected to put in 12-hour days, seven days a week (yes, including kids). Already sounds awful, right? It gets worse. In Pullman, Illinois, a company town that employed and housed workers to build posh railway cars, times had gotten tough. In response, George Pullman cut jobs and wages. It was 1893. Thousands of workers walked off their jobs in protest, demanding higher salaries and lower rents. Other unions joined, refusing to work the Pullman cars, turning the small-town fracas into a national fury.

With mail cars backing up, and riots worrying train execs, President Grover Cleveland stepped in. He declared the strike illegal and sent 12,000 troops to break the strike. Cue brutal protests and bloodshed. The strike was broken, but so was the spirit of the workers. To reach out to the labor movement, Congress rushed the national holiday into law. The bad will resulted in Cleveland losing re-election. But the day off for hot dogs endures.

link

cheerfulgreek · #2 09-07-2009, 11:33 AM

This is really interesting. I wish we had time off like they do over in Germany. A friend of mine was telling me the amount of time off workers get there. I can't remember exactly what she said, I'll have to ask her, but it's a required amount of time off. Something we don't get a lot of here.

jennyj87 · #3 09-07-2009, 11:34 AM

no joke when I was very young (like 7?) I though labor day was when everyone who was pregnant went into labor.

Psi U MC Vito · #4 09-07-2009, 12:32 PM

Very interesting. I had no idea that labor day was related to the Pullman Strike at all, much less that closely.

groovypq · #5 09-07-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyj87

no joke when I was very young (like 7?) I though labor day was when everyone who was pregnant went into labor.

I have a friend who's hoping to go into labor today! She's about four days overdue.

Elephant Walk · #6 09-09-2009, 02:59 AM

I didn't read the entire link, so I apologize if this has been said.

But when they were discussing having a Labor Day, they intentionally stayed away from May 1st, a day when the rest of the world celebrated Labor Day. They wanted to break the international workers union.

On May 1st in cities like Berlin can be dangerous, deadly and fun. Depending who you are. The borough next to mine in Berlin named Kreuzberg had graffiti that said "Erste Mai, schweine sterben und autos brennen" or "1st of May, Pigs Die and Cars Burn"

RU OX Alum · #7 09-09-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I didn't read the entire link, so I apologize if this has been said.

But when they were discussing having a Labor Day, they intentionally stayed away from May 1st, a day when the rest of the world celebrated Labor Day. They wanted to break the international workers union.

On May 1st in cities like Berlin can be dangerous, deadly and fun. Depending who you are. The borough next to mine in Berlin named Kreuzberg had graffiti that said "Erste Mai, schweine sterben und autos brennen" or "1st of May, Pigs Die and Cars Burn"

Dude, there are no-joke for real communists and neo-socialist types over there that will kill you if they have the chance just because you're an American. Schutz sein.

twinkle555 · #8 09-09-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennyj87

no joke when I was very young (like 7?) I though labor day was when everyone who was pregnant went into labor.

haha that is what i thought too! I used to draw pictures on my calendar for holidays (like a pumpkin for Halloween, flag for July 4th etc.) On labor day i always drew a pregnant lady!