Embassy of the United States

Labor Day 2007

The History of Labor Day Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means   Labor Day parade, Main St., Buffalo, N.Y., ca. 1900   "Labor Day differs in every essential way 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. (Source: Department of Labor.)   History of Labor Day A Look at Labor Day from the Library of Congress History of Labor Day from the U.S. Department of Labor Labor Day 2007.  AFL-CIO The Origins of Labor Day.  PBS. Labor Facts Federal Minimum Wage Minimum Wages, by State - View the minimum wage and overtime laws for each state and U.S. territory. Labor Day Facts from the Census Bureau - How many people are in the U.S. labor force? What do they earn? What are their benefits? Labor Statistics: U.S. Department of Labor.  Bureau of Labor Statistics - Data on employment, unemployment, prices, wages and compensation, working conditions, productivity... Department of Labor.  FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Your Rights as a Worker - Know the laws that protect you as a worker. Employment laws, equal employment opportunity, wages and benefits, health benefits... Labor Unions History of Labor Unions – 100 Years of Struggle and Success, AFL-CIO Labor Union Membership and Earnings Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

Publications Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Department of Labor.  Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2006-07 edition Monthly Labor Review on Line Career Guide to Industries Occupational Outlook Quarterly   For Kids Exploring Career Information.  U.S. Department of Labor More Career Ideas for Kids - View the minimum wage and overtime laws for each state and U.S. territory.     Labor Day poster distributed to war plants and labor organizations, Aug. 1942