The history behind Labour Day celebrations

Peter Hall

'LABOR or LABOUR'
Whatever the spelling, with "you" or without "you" the Labour movement in North America has gradually become "love's labour lost" as gradually the clout of the labour movement and their unions has diminished across both Canada and the United States. Some unions still have the power to affect political movements as has been seen in Ontario with the province-wide Teachers' Union and in the States with the Teamsters, but gradually their powers to persuade and dissuade people have lessened to a great degree.
The Labor-Labour movements in North America were created during times that the workers in both countries were in need of support as work hours were long and respect for the workers was minimal. In Canada a parade was held in the 1880s in support of the Toronto Typographical Union which was on strike for a reduced hourly work week - reduced down to 58 hours a week was their demand. The strike took place on the first Monday in September.
And suddenly Labor Day was adopted. It took time to be recognised in both countries. In the US the nation gradually gave increasing emphasis to the day and the first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From these a movement developed to secure state legislation and a law was first passed in Oregon in 1887 and followed soon by Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honour of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in DC and the territories.
In legalese, Labor Day is "dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers and constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well being of the country".
The observances and celebrations of Labor Day have continued throughout the years and in both countries they coincide with the last weekend of the North American summer. Street parades were commonly held to show the strength and achievements of the trade and labour movement and were followed by a festival for the recreation and enjoyment of the trade and labour organisations. But that has gradually changed as the holding of large parades has brought with it difficulties in the organisation of such and the related security issues.
There has also been a decline in the numbers attending such functions as the labour movement has had difficulty maintaining its relevance with its younger workers and with the decline in support of the union movement from the political parties which grew up due to the movement and as economic factors in both countries affect the perceived need for the union movement.
Labor Day is now more a celebration that ends summer rather than a celebration for workers. Stores are open, the beaches are packed, and many of the parades that were labour-based have been replaced by parades celebrating cultural diversity. New York City's major parade on that day is now a festival celebrating West Indian culture, although that has been marred by violence during the last few years, while in Toronto the Workers Parade saw minimal support as the city celebrated the National Exhibition and again, multiple multi-cultural events.
But the relevance of the union and trade movements is still there though their focus has been slow in changing.
The demand now throughout North America is for more organised support for minorities, for rights, and for a general improvement in the economic realities of the times. Rents in New York have risen so quickly that a New Yorker would need to make at least $38 an hour to afford the city's median asking rent of $2690 monthly. The minimum wage in New York - $8.75! For the movements to continue and survive the need now is a more general one rather than a focus purely on their own situation and their workers. Unless there is a concerted effort to adopt the social needs and demands of the 21st century realities it will indeed be "loves labours LOST"!