Why Labor Day?

1. Why Labor Day?

2. Holiday that celebrates the role that workers play in American society First Monday in September Made a federal holiday in 1894 Labor day

3. Sought to change poor working conditions Began in the late 1700’s with textile mills Gained power during the 1800’s with mining and railroad workers Confrontations with companies were very often violent and deadly In what ways did the labor movement help change today’s working conditions? The Labor movement in America

4. A typical hour day of work would depend on the type of job you had and what the owners wanted, but the hours were long. 10+ hours per day 6-7 days a week Example- A steel worker would have had a 10-13 hour shift and required to work 6-7 days a week. In today’s society how long is the working day? Working Hours

5. Working Conditions • Dangerous • Dirty/unsanitary • No proper tools • No training • Unsafe • High health risk • Long hours • Death • No benefits(vacations, sick days)

6. March 25th 1911-New York About 500 young women were working at the shirt wait company They created tailored shirts The exists were keep locked in order to prevent workers from resting or stealing . Most of the women were Italian or Jewish The fire broke out in the afternoon Most of the women escaped but 146 were trapped and died. Some jumped to their deaths and most burned. The owners Blanck and Harris were found innocent of any wrong doing. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire

7. Children would work to help the family and had very little schooling. In the 1900’s more than a quarter of a million children under the age of 15 worked in mills, mines, factories and other jobs Children would earn less money than an adult with the same job. By 1920 most states passed laws that required children to be at least 14 years old to work. What is the required age in today’s society to be able to start working in America? Child Labor

8. Breaker boys in a coal chute, South Pittston, Pennsylvania in 1911. By Lewis Hine

9. A group of workers who act together to demand better working conditions Often in conflict with employers Attempt to elect politicians who are sympathetic to the cause of workers Unions

10. Gave workers a way to negotiate with their employers Challenge poor working conditions in the courts Strike, Picket, Slowdown Sometimes resort to violence What did the Unions Do?

11. If the Labor Movement had never changed working conditions in America what would be your role in society today?