Labor Day in the United States is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September, dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor who organized the first parade in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882. Ten thousand workers, demanding better working conditions, took unpaid leave to march in that parade. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day. This was done with street parades to exhibit the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations, followed by festivals for the workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were later introduced as more emphasis was placed upon the civil significance of the holiday.

Quote from Labor Day comments from Maine Labor Commissioner, Laura Fortman, Sept. 3, 2007: “At Statehood in 1820, Maine’s workforce was predominantly agricultural. Less than 7 percent of our workers were employed in commerce, called service and transportation now, and just over 11 percent were in manufacturing. Despite the state workforce’s enduring reputation as the hardest workers in the nation, working people were not necessarily well treated or sufficiently compensated. According to Maine’s preeminent labor historian, Dr. Charles Scontras, most industrial workers were not earning enough money to meet their cost of living and labor unrest grew in the decades up to and immediately following the Civil War. Early labor reforms regulating child labor, safety, wages and hours occurred at the state level directly because of the tremendous sacrifices of Maine’s workers, individually and collectively, along with the support of lawmakers, cooperative businesses and responsive government. Progress came slowly but surely over the next century.”

Taking advantage of large numbers of potential customers free to shop, Labor Day became an important sale weekend for many retailers and some buyers retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas Season’s Black Friday. Ironically, because of the importance of the sale weekend, some of those employed in the retail sector now work longer hours. More Americans work in the retail industry than any other, with retail employment making up 24 percent of all jobs in the United States. As of 2012, only 3 percent of those employed in the retail sector were members of a labor union.

Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the weekend of Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race was held that day from 1950 to 1983, and on the Sunday before from 1984 to 2003, but is set to return in 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. In high society, Labor Day is, or was, considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white or seersucker.

Probably, the most famous artwork in Maine is the Maine State Labor Mural by Judy Taylor of Tremont, Maine. She was commissioned in 2007 by the Maine Arts Commission to create an artwork depicting the “History of Labor in the State of Maine. This consisted of eleven 4-foot by eight-foot panels measuring 36 feet in length. Three of these are shown in this image. From left to right: The Apprentice where a cobbler is training his apprentice. Lost Childhood. Child labor was common in Maine. They frequently performed dangerous tasks for long hours. Textile Workers. Young women were often sent to the mills by their families who could not, or would not, support them.

This mural was displayed in the lobby of the Department of Labor Building in Augusta, until 2011 when, in a controversial move, Gov. Paul Le Page had it removed. It is once again on public display in its new home in the atrium of the Cultural Building that houses the Maine State Museum.