5 Things To Know About Labor Day

Today is the day we salute the hard working men and women across the country that help make our lives easier. Today, on Labor Day, we want to thank you for your labors.  America would not be what she is today without the hard working men and women, across the ages, doing their part to help make our country great. Here are 5 facts about Labor Day that we all ought to know.

Thank you to all the hard working men and women across America and Wyoming!

1. The Biggest Labor Union - The biggest labor union in the country belongs to The National Education Association. There are about 3 million members, both past and present.
2. The First Celebration - It was Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York. That was the first known Labor Day celebration About 10,000 American workers took some unpaid leave to parade down the streets of the Big Apple. It was planned by the Central Labor Union and consisted of picnics and speeches.
3. Who Are We Celebrating? - As of July of 2015, there just over 157 million Americans working in the Labor force. These are the men and women we celebrate today.
4. What Was The Big Deal? - The average American worked 12-hour days and 7 day weeks back in the late 1800's. There was a high demand for productivity with the production of steel and coal. The sad part of the account is that children who were 5-6 years of age and older, also worked in coal mines and factories. So yes, it was a big deal and the work force needed a proper balance.
5. The Adamson Act - 1916 was the first year that the work day was regulated to 8 hours a day. The Adamson Act was the first federal law passed, which regulated the workers hours in private companies.