It’s historically uncertain whether it was Peter McGuire of the American Federation of Labor or Matthew Maguire of the Central Labor Union who founded Labor Day (which Congress made a federal holiday in 1894). Probably makes no difference to you. However, in recognition of the day, here are a few facts to help you appreciate the labor you do – and how far we’ve come.
- 12-hour workdays, 7 days a week, were standard in America in the 1800s – and even children worked.
- The National Labor Union began fighting for an 8-hour workday in 1866.
- In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act set a minimum hourly wage of 25 cents.
(Source: History.com) ]
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