As we approach Labor Day weekend, you might be planning a BBQ or taking that last trip to the beach to mark the end of summer.

But, why is this day in early September really celebrated?

I decided to take to my old friend, Google, to look deeper into this American holiday. Google didn’t disappoint with its 97,900,000 results. Much has been written about this holiday, and it is clear it should mean more than eating a grilled hot dog with sand between your toes. The top search captures the essence of the holiday.

““Labor Day, which celebrates American employees and their achievements, was born out of the struggle to rectify poor working conditions. The Industrial Revolution, which ushered in the age of manufacturing, had brought with it 12- to 16-hour work days, seven days a week, in often unsafe and unsanitary circumstances.””

— August 2021, Google

According to HISTORY.com, “on September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history. The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in other industrial centers across the country, and many states passed legislation recognizing it. Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later, when a watershed moment in American labor history brought workers’ rights squarely into the public’s view.”

This year, Curtin is especially grateful for the fine men and women of the Local 2785 (Teamsters) and Local 510 (Display Workers) who have represented Curtin so well at the many events we have served in our 57+ year history. The work is hard, but there is great value in the effort put forth by each person stepping on the show floor. Thank you!