Did you know that Chicago contributed to the creation of the National Labor Day Holiday?
Here are 5 facts about Labor Day
- On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took to the streets of New York City marching from City Hall to 9th avenue for a concert, speeches and a pinic, creating the first celebration of the U.S. Labor Day. The event was planned by the Central Labor Union and the workers to unpaid leave to participate.
- The Haymarket Riot of 1886 and the Pullman Palace Car Company 1894 Strike both contributed to the creation of the Labor Day Holiday by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1894.
- In 1916, the 8-hour work day was established with the passing of the Adamson Act, the first federal law regulating worker’s hours in private companies.
- In 1987, the Chicago Labor Day parade was held early, the Friday before Labor Day in an effort to get more people enjoying the parade than in the parade. The parade route moved down Clark Street from Wacker Drive to Van Buren Street.
- Labor Day weekend singles the end of preseason for the American Football Season. The 2014 regular season starts September 4th.
