Labor Day is on Monday, September 2.  The holiday marks the unofficial end of summer 2024.  As students begin to head back to school, many Americans enjoy one last long weekend to host a summer barbecue or enjoy a trip to the beach.

The first Monday in September commemorates the American labor movement.  The federal holiday celebrates "the social and economic achievements of American workers" and is rooted in the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday "to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America's strength, prosperity and well-being".  We commemorate the struggles these labor movement activists undertook to provide all workers across our nation with a more fair, just and equitable workplace.  

Matthew Maquire, a representative from the Machinists Union actually was the founder of Labor Day.  Maquire, the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. 

"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

Theodore Roosevelt 

"The miracle is not that we do the work, but that we are happy to do it."

Mother Teresa

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Enjoy a well-deserved break on this Labor Day as we acknowledge the value of hard work.