Labor Day and Independence Day
Photo from Austrian National Library
The connection between these two very important
American holidays tends to go unnoticed.
Every individual freedom provided by our nation’s independence
is dependent on the possibility for each of us to earn a living wage.
Poverty level wages give no freedom of opportunity for
housing, health care, food, clothing, or security.
What is Labor Day about?
If you were a white factory worker in the 1880’s you were probably dependent on a job with no contract, and you worked upwards of 60 hours a week for a paltry daily wage. Plus you were completely at the mercy of management, who could deny work to anyone and everyone
at any time for any reason.
If you were a person of color, you were dependent on conditions
that were even more insecure.
To bring attention to these unfair working conditions, labor organizers began coordinating public events in 1882. As a result of continuing efforts working conditions slowly made improvements, Labor Day became a holiday
in some 30 states, and it was finally made a Federal holiday in 1894.
Labor Day is a symbol of the fight for freedom by American workers.
It is a fight which continues to this day, 140 years later.
This country’s fight for Independence was not simply to be independent of another country. It was a page in the fight for the universal freedom which comes from equality of human rights. When we celebrate the achievements represented by Independence Day and Labor Day we must remain aware that our freedoms are fragile. Ultimately our individual freedom is dependent on the freedom of all. To have any hope of maintaining the freedoms we have
we must fight everywhere for freedom for everyone.