Labor Day 2019 is the last care-free summer holiday before fall schedules and school terms completely take over.
In fact, it is the last 3 day holiday between July 4 and Thanksgiving. So, Bullhorn Media brings you this special holiday edition of their blog. We will delay our usual video and technology topics to dedicate this blog to working Americans. We want to recognize them–and you–on this special Labor Day 2019 Holiday.
The Balance: Work, Life, Family
The Labor Day holiday has become an important time. It is a time to renew, refresh and re-invigorate family members and friends. Today, we embrace the philosophy of a Balance between Work, Family, and Play.
Having time for work, for play, and for the family is the secret of life. Labor Day focuses on “play.” Isn’t it ironic that it is called “Labor Day?” After all, the entire objective of the day is not to work?
In 21st century America, we are drawn to outdoor activities for this holiday. So, Family fun is planned to engage every age. And, because of this holiday, there is time for us to connect with family and friends.
We will be found picnicking, hiking, and swimming. We will share camping, boating, sight-seeing, and even shopping excursions. Labor Day provides healthy moments of refreshment for the mind, spirit, and body.
Labor Day 2019: A Forgotten Story of Revolution
But there is more to Labor Day 2019 than picnics, parks, parades, and barbecues. In fact, it is a mysterious and misunderstood holiday. So, we depart from our usual topics to bring you some special Labor Day facts, stories, and statistics.
First, we take this opportunity to send out Happy Labor Day congratulations to the 162 million American workers who enrich our country today.
Touch of Labor Day History
Most Americans only vaguely know the details of Labor Day. And, it is true that picnics, parties, and parades will consume our nation’s energy this coming long weekend.
Sometimes we get very involved with just having the freedom of a three-day holiday. Then we forget the reason the Labor Day holiday was nationalized.
And if we, as adults, forget, how can we expect future generations of children to remember?
History, Labor Movements, Protests: The First Labor Day Celebration in New York City
Workers Before Labor Reform Endured Unbearable Work Conditions. Even Children Were Forced into Labor.
To begin, we turn back the clock to the time of the Industrial Revolution. It seems the first American Labor Day was in New York City. And it’s quite a story.
10,000 marching men in 1882 instigated the entire idea. And they had plenty of labor problems to protest.
However, on the day of September 5, 1882, the laborers created a peaceful demonstration. Why did they demonstrate? People, of that era, men, women, and children, worked 10 plus hour days. This was part of the daily routine. Some worked even longer hours.
Our Labor Day Holiday Was Born from Labor Reform
Imagine the working conditions of that time period with its unsafe working environment in every factory. (No wonder fire was feared. No laws existed for sprinkler systems in those days.)
There are labor stories from this time in history that could melt the hardest hearts. For example, let’s look at the story of March 25, 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory fire in New York City.
We remembered one of the most infamous incidents in American industrial history.
148 people died. The “deaths were largely preventable”…”Most of the victims died as a result of neglected safety features and locked doors within the factory building.”
Life Before Labor Reform
The lives of workers during that time period before the birth of unions were nothing like ours.
- Child labor (Child-care was just no problem. This is because a 5-year-old could work right beside her mother in a sweatshop. Of course, both mother and child would have quotas.)
- Low pay was the standard. Labor was the company’s cheapest resource.
- 10-16 hour workdays exhausted families. Family time was non-existent.
But on that day, in 1882, the first Labor Day Celebration occurred. The protesting and speeches erupted in massive picnicking instead of violence.
Undoubtedly, Fun abounded… “But, that is another story.”
Slow Growth of Labor Reform and a Change We Still Enjoy
Adamson’s Act Set New Labor Standards with Maximum 8 Hour Day and a 40 Hour Work Week. Over Time Pay was Also Established.
That’s right, massive picnicking followed the massive picketing on that first NYC Labor Day. (Now you know where the cook-out custom originated!) All of this happened on September 5, 1882.
However, incredible as it seems, our society had to wait until 1916 for the 8-hour work-day to become law.
What Does the Adamson Act Mean to You? (The Pullman Story)
This important labor law occurred with the authority of the Adamson Act in 1916. The Adamson Act was the first legislation that mandated a 40-hour work-week. The act also established additional pay for overtime.
And there is more behind the story of the 8 hour day in the eyes of history. The story begins a year after the NYC peaceful demonstration and celebration of the first Labor Day.
It began when an 1883 economic depression caused a downturn in the purchase of rail cars for passenger trains.
“Railroad company owner George Pullman cut workers’ wages. Then, he refused to lower their rents. A nation-wide labor strike ensued…” To squelch the rebellious behavior, President Grover Cleveland called in military muscle.”
And violence ensued. Real Violence. The unfortunate statistics from that clash included “30 deaths, 57 injured, and $80 million dollars in property damage.”
President Cleveland Makes Amends
So we can understand the reason that President Cleveland was eager to make Labor Day a federal holiday one year later. Oh, yes, he rushed Congress into creating the official holiday. However, it was not until 23 years later, with the Adamson Act, that we actually established the 8-hour workday and 40-hour work-week.
Those are the statistics and the stories behind the Labor Day Holiday we are about to enjoy.
We don’t tell you these Labor era stories to sadden you as you approach happy Holiday plans. We at Bullhorn Media believe that we can only appreciate a holiday if we know the history and the heritage behind it.
And Now—Back to the 21st Century: Please Do Not Become a Labor Day Statistic
Labor Day 2019 is like all summer holidays in one way. Traffic is fierce as we exit our cities to outlying parks, lakes, and beaches. Thus we also take a moment to caution you about traffic safety.
In fact, authorities are expecting almost 400 deaths over the holidays. During this holiday period, 86 % of Americans will be on the road. And 48,000 will suffer injuries.
CBS News recently reported on some holiday driving tips, summarized below.
They prefaced the tips with the comment, that “these dangers probably will not deter you from driving to your holiday celebrations.”
Rules for the Road:
Balance: Work-Life-Play
Therefore, Bullhorn Media would feel remiss if we did not caution you about a few driving hazards:
- The consumption of alcohol and driving on the nation’s busy holiday roads during the Labor Day holiday.
- Drink responsibly are magic words.
- Sure, have a good time with family and friends at your party. However, we urge you to either hire transportation or designate a sober driver.
- Drive Friendly and Patiently. You might be a few minutes late. But you-will-get-there.
- And they CBS News added their number one safety driving tip. This tip is for all holidays, not just Labor Day: “Texting or other distracted driving is more dangerous than driving drunk. If you need to tell your relatives you are running late, pull over.”