Labor Day

In the late 1800s, it was common for most industrial workers to work 12-hour days, seven days a week. Children as young as five or six worked in mines, mills, and factories across the United States. Working conditions were often dangerous and dirty, and deadly accidents were common. As the country’s dependence on manufacturing grew, trade unions emerged as a way for workers to join together and protest the unsafe conditions, long hours, and low pay. The country’s first Labor Day parade was held Sept. 5, 1882, when 10,000 workers marched in New York City.

The U.S. labor movement has been a driving force behind many of the workplace rights and benefits we often take for granted today. Labor activists, often risking their own safety and well-being, advocated for shorter workdays, safer working conditions, and fair wages. The U.S. labor movement’s push for an eight-hour workday, a minimum wage, and workplace safety standards laid the foundation for the work-life balance we aim to achieve today. Click HERE to view the resources developed by The Diversity Movement.