Labor Day is a national legal holiday that grew out of a celebration and parade in honor of the working class by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York. In 1884, the Knights held a large parade in New York City celebrating the working class. The parade was held on the first Monday in September. The Knights passed a resolution to hold all future parades on the same day, designated by them as Labor Day.

In the late 1880's, labor organizations began to lobby various state legislatures for recognition of Labor Day as an official state holiday. The first states to declare it a state holiday were Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey in 1887. Then, in 1894, Congress passed a law recognizing Labor Day as an official national holiday.

Today, Labor Day is observed not only in the U.S. but also in Canada and in other industrialized nations. It has come to be recognized in the U.S. not only as a celebration of the working class, but also as the unofficial end of the summer season.

August 31, 2011

Dear Member,
 
This opinion piece by journalist Sam Pizzigati reminded me why labor unions are essential to the workforce of America. It touched me in many ways. It reminds me of how Labor Day marks the historical era when workers fought for a collective voice to gain better wages, fair hiring practices, and safe working conditions. Many of those workers fought, and some died, to let workers have the right to form Unions. (Google Harry Bridges, ILWU founder)
 
When we celebrate Labor Day, we must remember that collective bargaining gave us the five-day workweek, overtime, paid holidays, sick pay, vacation pay, bereavement pay, family medical leave act, fair hiring practices, right to grieve or file complaints, seniority rights, health benefits, pensions, maternity/paternity leave, fee waiver for professional development, and safe working conditions. Unions were also instrumental to form laws such as children labor laws, worker's compensation for job injuries, CalOSHA to ensure safe working conditions, and laws to prohibit discriminatory hiring practices. Unions have fought for decent wages for workers, and raise the bar to maintain a middle class that allow us the opportunities to realize the American dream.  
 
Thank you for supporting your union voice with your membership. We must maintain our collective voices to insure we never lose that right.  
 
Have a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend.
 
In solidarity,

Peggy O'Neil-Rosales
CSUEU, Chapter 315 President