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Labor Day Ideas
Date: First Monday in September
Women have been a part of the work force
since the dawn of time. What has changed over those millennia, is the
role women play, and how they are treated within the labor force as
far as pay equity and opportunity goes.
With the onset of the industrialized era
later in the 1800s, women flocked to factories, particularly during
the Civil War when there were no men to operate them. But still they
were not accorded the wages or respect of their male counterparts.
That's not to say that everything was coming up roses for the men,
either. It was an employer's world, with returning soldiers needing
jobs, and taking lower salaries to get something to survive on. That
type of advantage existed for decades, and gave birth to the union
movement.
In 1872, the Trades Assembly marched through the streets of Toronto,
in Ontario, Canada, advocating the repeal of a law that made unions
illegal. A demonstration later that year, would see them descend on
the Prime Minister's residence, where they hoisted him in a chair and
carried him all the way to Parliament. Sir John A. McDonald would
organize the law's repeal, shortly after.
The initial demonstration was repeated as a commemorative event every
year until 1882, at which time it was decided to make it an official
day of the working man and woman, and from that, Labor Day was born.
American labor activist Peter J. McGuire spoke at the event that year,
and took both the concept and the Day, back to the United States.
Labor Day Resources:
- Labor Day Events
- Labor Day Sales
- Labor Day Recipes
- Labor Day Clipart
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