Labor Day

Why is the American Labor Day observed on the first Monday of every September instead of on May 1, the date that many other countries, including Ukraine, celebrate May Day-International Workers’ Day? That information and other aspects of American labor history were discussed at the Sunday, Sept. 4, meeting of the Talk Lab English Club in the library’s Window on America Center.
The session included a fact-matching game that covered many tidbits about American labor. For example, did you know that the first known labor strike in the world occurred in Egypt in the year 1152 B.C. under the rule of Pharoah Ramses III? Artisans of the Royal Necropolis at Deir el-Medina stopped working because of delays in the wheat supplies that were used to pay them.

As for the first labor strike in America, that occurred in 1619 in the Jamestown colony of Virginia after the royal English governor called for an election for the House of Burgesses (the colony’s legislative assembly). However, when a group of Eastern European settlers showed up to vote, the government turned them away, saying that the election was only for Englishmen. The Eastern European men (women could not vote back then) went on strike, pointing out that they were brought to Virginia because their talents as artisans, craftsmen and skilled workers were needed to save the English from starving and freezing. The governor relented and this first labor strike in America also amounted to one of the first exercises in democracy in the Western Hemisphere. (By the way, the Eastern European workers included a man from Ukraine – but that will be the topic of a future discussion.)

Now, remember the question about why America celebrates Labor Day in September instead of on May 1? The answer comes from a complicated series of events that occurred in the 1880s and 1890s.
In 1886, a convention of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions set May 1, 1886 as the goal for establishing the eight-hour work day. But when large businesses and government ignored the request, union workers held large rallies, organized rallies, demonstrations and strikes across America over the first few days of May. Unfortunately, one such rally in the Haymarket area of Chicago ended when an unknown perpetrator threw a bomb that killed a policeman and triggered additional violence. The bomber was never captured or identified, but several labor leaders were arrested and later convicted and executed. American labor leaders appealed for the sympathy of labor leaders in Europe, resulting in the creation of the first International May Day in 1890.

Then, in 1894, railway workers in Pullman, Illinois, went on strike after their wages were reduced. Sympathy strikes were held across America and often were met with more violence. After the strikes ended, the United States government moved to appease the unions. Congress approved a federal Labor Day holiday, which was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland. The holiday, however, was scheduled for the first Monday of every September to avoid further stirring of emotions and memories connected with the violence of Chicago’s Haymarket affair and its aftermath.
There are many more interesting stories about the American labor movement, too long to tell in this space.
But to learn more about America, its history and culture, and to practice speaking in English, please come to any of the Talk Lab English Club sessions at the library. Meetings are free and currently are held on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Photos.