Labor Day is held on the first Monday of September. It is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers and how they have contributed to the well-being of our country.
It is thought that this day originated in Canada. There were labor disputes in Toronto in the 1870’s. So, in 1872 a parade was held in support of a strike against the 58 hour workweek. As a result, 24 union leaders were arrested for organizing the event due to anti-union laws.
The first observance of US labor day was in the form of a parade. Central Labor Union organized the event on September 5, 1882 and ten thousand workers paraded through New York City to rally against the 12 hour work day and support the 8 hour work day. This is commonly agreed upon as the first Labor Day in America.