This upcoming Monday, September 7, 2026, is Labor Day, one of the many Federal holidays we celebrate in the United States. But it's far more than just a day we get off work. The fact that Labor Day exists at all is a testament to America and our resilient (mostly) blue collar workers.
Another Revolution
You may recall from history class that the Industrial Revolution started around 1760 in Great Britain. Steam power and newly minted machines began to replace some of the human labor required for agriculture and manufacturing. It was expected that soon the civilized world would usher in a new era of advanced productivity.
Unfortunately, instead of enjoying more done in less time, certain forces were put into motion – and suddenly the average person was paid less and asked to work harder for that meager salary. By the time it hit the United States in 1840 or so, everyone was hard at work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, often in horrible conditions. That included children as young as 5 or 6 years old. Instead of going to kindergarten, sometimes these lads and lasses were working in the coal mines and factories, just so their families could have enough to eat.
Immigrants flooded into cities, desperate to find what would someday be called the American Dream. Unfortunately, many of them found themselves at the mercy of the industrialists and company towns. Whole families worked long days, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks. They lived in their employer’s shanty towns and learned what little they could, if they could stay awake, at Sunday School each week.
The Union Strikes Back
Around this same time, labor unions began to grow in popularity, if not effectiveness. The earliest recorded strike occurred in 1768 when New York journeymen tailors protested a wage reduction. It took nearly 60 years for the Unions to gain enough power and influence to make a difference. But even these labor unions were associations of skilled workers and not the people in the factories.
In 1886, growing union forces organized a labor protest in Chicago. City officials sent the police in to break things up, someone threw a bomb, and the protest became a riot that cost 8 people their lives. It didn‘t help that the socialists and radicalized communists started mixing things up, making progress difficult for both sides.
In December of that year, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed, purporting to represent all workers, irrespective of skill, race, religion, nationality or gender. They weren’t perfect, but it was a start.
A Parade, A Railroad & Congress
Four years earlier, On September 5, 1882, thousands of workers in New York City took unpaid time off work to participate in what would soon become an annual tradition. The employees marched from City Hall to Union Square, the first Labor Day parade in United States history. They caught the attention of many in local governments who started setting aside time every September as a workingman’s holiday – a time for workers to celebrate being workers by not going to work.
The federal government was reluctant to step in and make anything official, likely still recovering from the Civil War. At least that was the popular excuse. But things came to a head again in Chicago in 1894. Hundreds of employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company went on strike and called for a boycott to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives. The work stoppage disrupted rail transportation for more than two full months.
Federal troops were sent in to get things back in order, causing a rash of protests and riots that left more than a dozen workers dead. To try and smooth things over, Congress and President Grover Cleveland passed an act making Labor Day an official holiday in the District of Columbia and all federal territories. Most states also adopted the measure.
Picnics, Parades & Public Gatherings
Today, while parades are less prevalent, political rallies and picnics dominate the calendar. We have the 40-hour work week – five 8-hour days - and most employees now only work 5 to 6 days per week. The first Monday of every September we have a three day weekend. It’s not a year of Jubilee, but it helps. It has even weirdly affected the fashion world. AND it is the unofficial end of summer.
And of course, any time you have picnics and BBQ’s, you attract ants and the most notorious Florida insect – the mosquito. Luckily, if you’re having an outdoor get together, Good News Pest Solutions offers our exclusive No Bite Zones. Our Mosquito Protection Program transforms biting momma mosquitoes and their offspring into vegans. No bites!
We’ll be closed on Monday so our employees can enjoy their own Labor Day picnics. But for more information on the program, or to add a delivery to your regular pest control service, please give us a call!