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Having the first Monday in September off from work was significant for American workers in 1894, when Labor Day was declared a national holiday. Working conditions in the country’s factories, railroads, mills, and mines were grim. Employees, including many children, were often required to work 12 hours a day, six days a week, in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces. Supervision was harsh and punishments were handed out to those who talked or sang as they worked. Share today's term with your network:
Why is 'Labor Day' the Term of the Day? 
Photo courtesy Getty Images / Devonyu Today’s term is Labor Day, as today marks the federal holiday celebrating the contributions and achievements of America’s national workforce. Labor Day is generally treated like the final day of summer, and is often celebrated with a relaxing long weekend, cookouts and major retail sales.
While the holiday became official in 1894, its roots go back to the years following the civil war and the rise of the industrial age. This was a time when many workers toiled away in factories with extremely dangerous working conditions, giving rise to the formation of unions. And, it was through the efforts of labor unions to celebrate workers each year in the form of labor parades, that Labor Day eventually became recognized by many state governments and then by the federal government as an event to be celebrated by all.
Labor union membership peaked in 1954 at 35% of workers. By the 1970s, 21 million workers were union members, though membership has been on the decline in the decades since. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall rate of union membership in the U.S. in 2020 was 10.8%, representing 14.3 million workers.
- Ben RELATED READING More on Labor Day
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