I was waiting on BruceMcF to write this as I'm sure his knowledge on the topic far surpasses mine…. but here goes….
The History Of Labor Day
HOW LABOR DAY CAME ABOUT; WHAT IT MEANS
“Labor Day differs in every essential from the other holidays of the year in any country,” said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. “All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another.
Labor Day…is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation.” Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/bllabor.htm
But the story behind Labor Day represents the power of the Labor Movement. Follow me below the fold…