Labor Day and May Day emerged from the movement for a shorter workday in industrial America

Both holidays arose at the same time, nearly 150 years ago, in the midst of an explosive labor uprising.

By: Jeffrey Sklansky, University of Illinois Chicago, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 6, 2026

Words: 1,701

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Jeffrey Sklansky, University of Illinois Chicago

Most of the world observes International Workers’ Day on May 1 or the first Monday in May each year, but not the United States and Canada. Instead, Americans and Canadians have celebrated Labor Day as a national holiday on the first Monday in September since 1894, 12 years after the first observance of Labor Day in New York City.

The celebrations aren’t the same.

In …

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