The history of Labor Day and why we celebrate it. Labor Day originated from the Pullman strike of 1894, a nationwide railroad strike started by workers of the Pullman Palace Car Company in response to wage cuts. The strike was broken up by federal troops and led to violence where 13 strikers were killed. As a result, President Cleveland made Labor Day a national holiday to ease tensions between workers and unions. Today, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor the American labor movement and the workers who built the nation.

1. The history of Labor Day
And why we celebrate it!
2012

2. Labor Day Facts:
• The first Labor Day was celebrated in the United
States on September 5, 1882 as a New York City
holiday.
• Twelve years later in 1894, there was a nationwide
strike between labor unions and railroads.
• The conflict began in the town of Pullman, Illinois
on May 11, 1894 when approximately 3,000
employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company
began a strike in response to recent reductions in
wages, which stopped all railroad traffic in the
United States west of Chicago, Illinois.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

3. Labor Day Facts:
• During the economic panic of 1893, the Pullman
Palace Car Company cut wages as demands for
their train cars plummeted and the company's
revenue dropped.
• A delegation of union workers complained of the
low wages and the twelve-hour workdays.
• Further, the company owned and operated the
town of Pullman, Illinois and didn't decrease the
rent charged to their employees on company
owned homes.
• The company owner, George Pullman, refused to
negotiate with the union and its members.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

4. Labor Day Facts:
• The railroad companies began hiring strikebreakers,
people who cross union picket lines during a strike and
take the jobs of the union workers.
• The strike was broken up by United States Marshals and
some 12,000 United States Army troops, sent in by
President Grover Cleveland on the premise that the
strike interfered with the delivery of U.S. Mail.
• During the course of the strike, 13 strikers were killed
and 57 were wounded.
• An estimated 6,000 rail workers did $340,000 worth of
property damage, about $8,818,000 if adjusted for
inflation to 2012.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

5. Labor Day Facts:
• As a result of the strike and the violence on both
sides, President Cleveland put reconciliation
with Labor as a top political priority.
• He was worried about further conflict with
unions and their workers, so he introduced
legislation making Labor Day a national holiday.
• The legislation was rushed through Congress
and signed into law unanimously just six days
after the end of the strike.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

6. Labor Day Facts:
• Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as
the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often
regarded as a day of rest and parades.
• The forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues,
fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events.
• Families with school-age children take it as the last 3 day
weekend to travel before the children return to school,
although school starting times now vary .
• Events held by labor organizations often feature political
themes and the appearances by candidates for public office.
• In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and
college football seasons.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

7. Labor Day Fast Facts:
This holiday is celebrated on the first
Monday of September. It was originated by
Peter J. McGuire, he was in a union that
helped honor the workers. President Grover
Cleveland designated it a Federal holiday.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

8. The symbol of Labor Day
The symbol of Labor Day is the American Flag. The
American Flag is the symbol of Labor Day because
Labor Day is honoring the men and women who
work for our country and the American Flag
represents our country.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

9. The Customs of Labor Day
• A custom that people do on Labor Day is
having the Labor Day Parade. In the
parade there are marching bands, flags
and people marching through the street.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

10. More Labor Day customs:
One of the customs of Labor Day is getting the
day off from school for children and getting off
from work for the adults. Also on Labor Day
groups of people get together and have union
picnics, barbeques and end of the summer beach
parties.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

11. Sources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_strike
• How Stuff Works:
Http://www.howstuffworks.com/question459.htm.
• Labor Day: http://wilstar.com/holidays/laborday.htm
• The History of Labor Day:
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm
• Ansary, Mir Tamim.. Labor Day. Chicago: Reed
Educational, 1999.
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist

12. Have a safe & fun holiday weekend!
2012 Anabel Parra, Media Specialist