09/07/2026
On September 5, 1882, American workers held the first large parade in New York City. President Grover Cleveland signed a law to make Labor Day an official national holiday in 1894. The day honors workers. The U.S. Department of Labor notes it highlights fair pay and safer jobs. Early labor unions fought hard to change 12-hour workdays down to 8 hours. In 1926, Ford Motor Company started giving its factory workers two days off on Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. government made the 40-hour work week official in 1938 through the Fair Labor Standards Act.