Most of us only think “long weekend” when we hear the words
Labour Day, but have you ever wondered how it came
about?
This holiday that we are all so
accustomed to having was the result of
many years of struggle.
In the year 1869 in an age of rapid industrial expansion and
growth a small movement began in Hamilton, Ontario. Referred to as the 9 hour movement ( to
protest the 12 hour work day ) it grew in size until in March 1872 the Toronto Typographical Union went on strike over hours of work.
Unlike Britain which had abolished laws criminalising union
activity, Canada still had these laws on the books and employers pressed police
to act, arresting 24 leaders of the Typographical Union.
Sir John A. MacDonald made a swift move to gain
public support and only 4 short months later the Trade Union Act was
passed.
Although there were still many,
many restrictions it paved the way for
unions to legally represent the worker.
In December 1872 a parade was staged in support of the
Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week. The Toronto
Trades Assembly (TTA) called its 27 unions to demonstrate in support of the
Typographical Union who had been on strike since March 25. These marches in support of the 9 hour
workday gained support and grew in size and popularity every year.
After attending one of these labour festivals in Toronto,
U.S. labour leader Peter J. McGuire went back to New
York and established the first U.S. Labor Day on September 5, 1882. In June 1894 Canadian Prime Minister John Thompson made Labour Day an
official holiday to be celebrated in September.
Change did not come quickly or easily and many people lost
their jobs in the process, but as a result of that small movement 145 years ago
the majority of workers today have access to union or to other labour
representation for their concerns.
--Patricia Milner, Head of Reference Services
