Labor Day 2024
A message from Stephen Hofer, Founder of Aerlex Law Group
Labor Day in the United States, celebrated on the first Monday in September, has its origins in the late 19th century during the height of the Industrial Revolution. The holiday honors the contributions and achievements of the American labor movement and the social and economic achievements of workers, and serves as a way to provide a day of rest and celebration for workers and their families. At Aerlex Law Group, we think it’s a great opportunity to remember all of the people who make vital contributions to the success and safety of the aviation industry.
As you might expect from lawyers, we’ll begin this essay with a legal citation – to Commonwealth v. Hunt, an 1842 decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that held that it was legal for workers to form a trade union, in this case, the Bootmakers’ Society. Before Hunt, American workers who attempted to organize were prosecuted for criminal conspiracy in at least six states.
As American industry and commerce expanded dramatically after the the Civil War, the men and women who found jobs in the factories and on the railway lines often faced long, grueling hours, unsafe working conditions, and minimal pay. In response to these hardships, the first large labor unions began organizing strikes and rallies to demand better conditions, fair wages, and reasonable hours. One of the most notable events leading up to Labor Day was the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, where a peaceful protest of more than 80,000 largely immigrant workers throughout the city for an eight-hour workday turned violent after a bomb was thrown at the McCormick Reaper Factory, resulting in the deaths of police officers and civilians. In the aftermath of the Haymarket Riot, labor leaders in various movements, such as Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), Eugene Debs of the Railway Union and Peter McGuire of the Carpenters Union, began lobbying for a national day to recognize and honor the contributions of American workers.
The first Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. It was initially a parade to showcase the strength and spirit of trade and labor organizations, followed by a festival for workers and their families. As the concept of Labor Day gained popularity, more states began to recognize the holiday, and in 1887, Oregon became the first state to officially recognize Labor Day as a public holiday. However, it did not become a national holiday until after a nationwide railroad strike – the Pullman Strike of 1894. In an effort to mend relations with labor unions and workers, President Grover Cleveland signed the Labor Day bill into law on June 28, 1894, making Labor Day a national holiday.
Over the years, Labor Day has evolved from a purely labor-centric holiday to a more general end-of-summer celebration, and is often associated with parades, barbecues, and retail sales, but its historical significance remains important. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to protect workers’ rights and ensure fair labor practices. As the workforce continues to evolve with the rise of technology and the gig economy, the spirit of Labor Day encourages ongoing advocacy for all workers, emphasizing the importance of labor in building and sustaining the nation’s economy.
From our perspective, it’s also an important time to recognize the essential work that people throughout the aviation industry, including all those who are members of labor unions, perform day in and day out, to build the incredible flying machines, airplanes and rotor aircraft, that carry us into the heavens, who pilot them safely through the skies, who maintain and repair them on the ground, and who carry out the myriad of other tasks required to get millions of business and pleasure passengers from one destination to another. Whether you are working in the cockpit, the cabin, the hangar, on the luggage carousel, at the passenger gate or anywhere behind the scenes, Aerlex Law Group salutes you and honors your service. Thank you!
So, as we celebrate over the long three-day weekend, enjoy the holiday, give thanks for our great country, and remember to both honor and cherish the work and achievement of those who manufacture and produce all the goods and services that we cherish so dearly with life in America.