08/29/2024
Labor Day unofficially marks the end of the summer, the start of the school year, and, your last chance to fashionably wear white. Officially, the history of Labor Day goes all the way back to the first local and state celebrations of America’s working class in the 1800s. Before Labor Day was signed into law as a federal holiday by President Grover Cleveland in 1894, it was initially suggested as a national holiday in 1882 by one of the leading figures of the American Federation of Labor, Peter J. McGuire. He is credited with proposing a holiday to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."
McGuire’s quote captures the essence of Labor Day as we set aside this time to honor the significance of the working class and the history of the American Labor Movement, the outcomes of which we continue to enjoy today, including, but not limited to, the 40-hour work week, a minimum wage, and safe working conditions. Critically, the American Labor Movement was also the impetus for the revolutionary idea that a dialogue on worker rights should even exist.
As we head into the holiday weekend for those final picnics, barbecues, and beach getaways, let's enjoy the splendor of our American landscape this Labor Day and reflect on the national policies implemented for the protection of those whose labor shaped them. Also, please join me in taking a moment to recognize your collective labor efforts, as all of these contributions are so valuable and critical to the success here at Amyx.