Celebrating our workforce
Labor Day is a federal holiday observed on the first Monday of September in the United States, and the unofficial end of the summer season. This annual dedication recognizes the American labor movement and the contributions and achievements of American workers.
Now more than ever, it’s important to consider the significance of Labor Day and why it recognizes the American worker.
Labor Day originated amid a difficult time in American history during the 19th century. During that time people of all ages, including young children, immigrants and the poor worked long hours, seven days a week just to make a living. These individuals were often subjected to unsafe working conditions with limited access to fresh air or sanitary facilities.
As labor unions became more prominent, rallies and strikes were organized to protest these blatant abuses of the workforce. Following a number of protests and demonstrations that turned violent, the first Labor Day parade was held on Tuesday, Sep. 5, 1882. That day thousands of workers took unpaid leave and marched from City Hall to Union Square in New York City. However, Labor Day did not become a federal holiday until June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed it into law.
Since then, this holiday weekend has been an occasion to celebrate with parades, fireworks, picnics, and to spend time with loved ones. For my family, Labor Day weekend is a time to spend at our camp on Sacandaga Lake enjoying the “Ring of Fire.”
This past year has reminded us all why we should recognize and celebrate our American workforce. At the height of this pandemic, men and women in our community showed up to work each day to provide essential services to those who needed them most. We owe these individuals a debt of gratitude for all they’ve done to keep their communities moving forward during such challenging times.
We must also consider how the pandemic has affected our small businesses, the lifeblood of our communities. During the pandemic we saw unemployment rates skyrocket as a result of businesses forced to make cutbacks or close. Luckily, the number of people seeking unemployment benefits continues to drop nationwide, indicating businesses are hiring and Americans are getting back to work. On Thursday, Aug. 19, the Labor Department reported that jobless claims fell by 29,000 to 348,000.
Compared to January’s high of 900,000 applications for unemployment, recent trends show promising signs for our nation.
We should all recognize and appreciate the American workers who went above and beyond during the pandemic and the businesses that fought to remain open and continue to provide essential services. This fall, let’s do our part to support local businesses and help them recover. Whatever your plans might be this upcoming weekend, please be sure to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by generations before us so that we may peacefully enjoy this weekend with friends and loved ones.
I hope everyone has a wonderful, and safe, Labor Day weekend.