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Labor Day: The Pullman Strike Of 1894

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Every year, on the first Monday of September, workers around the nation take the day off and relax. The origins go back to New York, 1882. However, the Pullman strike of 1894 was one of the most significant events that led to Labor Day being a national holiday. When railroad workers went enraged by the poor treatment from their boss, George Mortimer Pullman, they protested against their boss. He required his men to live in what was known as Pullman city, and he would not provide basic utilities. Inability to complain about work, low wages, and charge for necessities that they thought should have been provided by Pullman all caused rage in the employees. An economic depression made life more difficult for Pullman’s employees, because They quit their jobs and sought to get fair treatment in the work environment. …show more content…

The government sided with the bosses instead by stating that men could find other jobs if their current employer was not giving them the treatment they thought they deserved. Eventually laborers got what they sought and they were granted fair treatment, such as 8 hours shifts. The first Labor Day was celebrated on the first Monday of September in the year 1882. Then in 1884, Congress passed an act which made every first Monday of September a nationwide holiday. Today Labor Day is dedicated to the American workers who contribute to the nation. This is the only holiday to be established by the government at the federal

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