The Real, Bloody And Amazing Story Of Labor Day

The year was 1880 - a time when the world thundered to the beat of steam engines pounding along newly laid rails.  ~~~ 

Bloody Thursday....   Labor Day is more than just a day when we get to cook up franks and burgers on the grill, throw down some beer, and bemoan the end of summer. This is a day of remembrance for all those who gave their sweat and blood to make the workplace in this country safe, fair and beneficial to working class Americans. It seems that we’ve forgotten that.

The labor history of the United States describes the history of organized labor, as well as more general history of working people, in the United States. Pressures dictating the nature and power of organized labor have included the demand for exclusive worker control of the workplace, seeking higher wages and shorter hours, electing favorable politicians, and passing favorable labor laws. Organized unions and their umbrella labor federations such as the AFL–CIO and citywide federations have competed, evolved, merged, and split against a backdrop of changing values and priorities, and periodic federal government intervention.

Knights of Labor

Steam Punk Chicago: Reenactment of “Battle of Halsted Viaduct”

Why Should I Care?