The United States will observe Labor Day on September 1, marking a tradition that honors the nation’s labor movement and the workers who contributed to many workplace rights. Unions have played a central role in shaping policies such as weekends, 40-hour work weeks, child labor laws, workplace safety regulations, and equal pay.
The roots of national unions trace back to 1866 with the founding of the National Labor Union (NLU) by William Sylvis. At its inception, there were about 200,000 workers in local unions across the country. The NLU aimed to address not only wages and working hours but also broader political issues. Although it did not admit African-American members and dissolved after the Panic of 1873, its influence persisted.
In 1869, the Knights of Labor was formed as an inclusive organization for all workers regardless of gender or race. By 1886, membership had reached 750,000 and the group advocated for child labor restrictions and government ownership of major infrastructure. That year saw significant unrest when more than 30,000 workers marched for an eight-hour workday. Violence during these demonstrations culminated in the Haymarket Square incident in Chicago—a bombing and shootout that resulted in multiple deaths among police officers and workers.
The aftermath led to increased international attention on labor issues. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) rose from this period as a leading union force. May Day became International Workers’ Day globally; however, U.S. lawmakers established Labor Day in September instead.
Subsequent decades brought legislative victories including the Keating-Owen Act restricting child labor (though later overturned), the Norris-LaGuardia Act banning anti-union contracts known as “yellow-dog contracts,” and creation of the Department of Labor in 1913. New unions emerged such as the Women’s Trade Union League and Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters—the first Black labor union.
Most union members between 1880 and 1930 were skilled craft workers affiliated with groups like AFL. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration enacted reforms through measures like the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) in 1933 which set maximum hours, minimum wages, and protected private-sector organizing rights. Though NIRA was struck down by courts two years later, it paved way for passage of key legislation such as the Wagner National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), guaranteeing collective bargaining rights.
By World War II’s end more than twelve million Americans belonged to unions. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) passed in 1938 set federal standards for minimum wage, work hours, overtime pay, restricted hazardous jobs for minors under eighteen years old, and banned employment discrimination based on race or other factors within government-funded industries.
Unions expanded their focus through subsequent decades—supporting women’s rights movements and civil rights campaigns—and helped establish laws like the Equal Pay Act and Civil Rights Act during the 1960s that addressed gender-based pay disparity and workplace discrimination.
Worker safety advanced with President Richard Nixon’s signing of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1970 after years marked by industrial accidents; OSHA established federal oversight for workplace hazards.
Some groups remained excluded from protections under FLSA—including farmworkers—who continued to organize throughout twentieth century America despite lacking federal bargaining rights. In California during the late-1960s grape strike led by United Farm Workers brought improvements via state law but most states still do not guarantee farmworker bargaining rights at a federal level.
Florida educators faced similar challenges regarding unionization efforts during this era: In response to low salaries and funding cuts throughout public schools—and following new state-level anti-strike laws—35,000 teachers staged what is recognized as America’s first statewide teacher walkout in 1968. Their action resulted in required professional negotiations between county school boards and educators; further legal changes granted collective bargaining rights but maintained prohibitions against striking public employees.
Legislation continued expanding worker protections into recent decades with enactment of Americans With Disabilities Act (1990), mandating reasonable accommodations for disabled employees; Family Medical Leave Act (1993), providing up to twelve weeks job-protected leave annually for major family events or health needs.
Despite progress achieved through organized labor actions over generations—many contemporary workers still face economic insecurity while some legal protections remain contested or incomplete at both state and national levels.
“Through unions, we’ve transformed workplaces, won dignity, and reshaped our democracy,” reads a statement from Florida Education Association leadership.“By the power of our collective voice,we will continue pushing toward a future where every educator…and every worker who keeps our communities running can live the American Dream.”
“At the core of our work as educators and unionists is a simple truth: we do this for our students and for the future we all deserve.Labor Day should serve as a reminder of how far we’ve come—and why we must never stop moving forward.”
Florida residents are encouraged to participate in local events hosted by Florida AFL-CIO across various communities.For those attending,the Florida Education Association invites participants to share photos on social media platforms tagging @FloridaEA.
