White...

I guess since it’s Labor Day, we’re not supposed to wear white anymore. Isn’t it funny that many Americans think this day is only about the ending of summer? Actually summer doesn’t end for several more weeks, and this is really a very important day that I wanted to investigate further. In a nutshell, this day celebrates the American worker.

Labor Day is meant to be a yearly acknowledgment of the contributions that workers have made to further the prosperity of America. Planned by the Central Labor Union, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. By the year 1894, everyone in America was celebrating Labor Day on the first Monday of the month of September. They celebrated the day with parades and high ranking speakers.

Labor unions have dwindled in popularity over the years, but they are so important. It is known that there is strength in numbers and organized labor does just that. It’s harder to tell a group ‘no’ than it is a single person. Unions are responsible for the 40 hour workweek and minimum wage. So many things that we take for granted as workers in America are all made possible due to organized labor. Organized labor unions were behind the starting of the holiday, as well as the main focus. Labor unions fight for fair treatment, wages, and benefits. Somewhere along the line, they’ve gotten a bad rap. I am quite proud to be the wife of a union member. I can honestly say that if it weren’t for the union, we wouldn’t be where we are now.


I fully respect this holiday, and at least take a moment to think about the history of the American worker in this nation, since even this nation wouldn’t be where it is today without the union…