is labor day a red white and blue holiday

For many people, Labor Day is just is labor day a red white and blue holiday three-day weekend that signals the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. But for American workers, the holiday holds a much deeper meaning rooted in the 19th century fight for fair working conditions.

The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City, following the plans of the Central Labor Union. The event gained popularity and by the early 1890s, most states were holding Labor Day celebrations. However, Congress did not recognize the holiday until June 28, 1894 when President Grover Cleveland signed an act making it a federal holiday. There has been much speculation over who the founder of the holiday is, but it is widely credited to Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor and Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union.

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In addition to recognizing the importance of worker-centered events, the law is meant to honor the women and men who fought tirelessly for workers’ rights during the labor movement in the late 19th century. Their hard-fought wins gave us many of the benefits that we take for granted today, such as a 40 hour work week, paid vacation, and sick days.

Unfortunately, the battle for fair working conditions is still not over. In recent years, we have seen the rise of precarious work, with people working erratic schedules and often without the security of a regular paycheck. This has been especially true for gig workers, who have little to no protections or benefits compared to traditional wage earners.

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