September 7, 2009 is Labor Day. For me it has always been the sure sign that summer is over. But have you ever stopped to consider the true meaning of this holiday? According to the U. S. Department of Labor website, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
First celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City, the holiday was not celebrated on the first Monday in September until 1884. The idea of a “workingman’s holiday’ grew with the development of labor unions and by 1894 twenty-nine states had adopted the holiday.
Some highlights of labor history in Illinois:
(Source: Chronology of Illinois Labor History: UIUC) http://www.library.illinois.edu/irx/chronology.htm
March 1867 – an act making eight hours a legal day’s work was passed.
May 4, 1886 – Haymarket protest meeting at which a bomb was thrown, killing 8 police officers and wounding about 65 other persons.
1894 – The Pullman strike
Workers at Pullman Car Company strike over wage cuts. American Railway Union called general railroad strike in sympathy. President Cleveland sent federal troops to Chicago in defiance of Governor Altgeld.
November 1905 – The Industrial Workers of the World was founded in Chicago.
1909 – Ten hour day law for women passed.
1929 – Children required to complete elementary grades before going to work.
1943 – Equal Pay for Women Act passed.
IDA collections with labor history materials:
Southeast Chicago Historical Society
More information on Labor Day and Labor in Illinois:
Websites:
The History of Labor Day – U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/OPA/ABOUTDOL/LABORDAY.HTM
Labor Day Information and Resources: USA.gov
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Labor_Day.shtml
Labor Day: History.com
http://www.history.com/content/laborday
(Includes a picture gallery and videos)
Oral History Project in Labor History: Roosevelt University
http://www2.roosevelt.edu/library/oralhistory/oralhistory.htm
Illinois Labor History Society
Chronology – Illinois Labor History
http://www.library.illinois.edu/irx/chronology.htm
Bibliography:
Matejka, Michael G. Fiery struggle : Illinois fire fighters build a union, 1901-1985. Chicago : Illinois Labor History Society, c2002.
Newton-Matza, Mitchell. Intelligent and honest radicals: the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Illinois legal system, 1919-1933. Thesis/Dissertation: Thesis (Ph. D.–Hist.)–Catholic University of America, 1999.
Orear, Les, and Orear, Linn. Chicago’s packinghouse workers: their story. Chicago, IL: Illinois Labor History Society, c2004.
Scipes, Steven R. “Kim”. Trade union development and racial oppression in Chicago’s steel and meatpacking industries, 1933-1955. Thesis/Dissertation: Thesis (Ph. D.)–University of Illinois at Chicago, 2003.
Stein, R. Conrad. The Pullman strike and the labor movement in American history. Series: In American history. Berkeley Heights, NJ, USA : Enslow Publishers, c2001.