Happy Labor Day, John!
You already know that at NextGen we’re all about empowering young people to organize and lead. And Labor Day is no exception – because we wouldn’t have this holiday without a young organizer! Here’s his story:
Peter J. McGuire – who the AFL-CIO credits as the Father of Labor Day (and May Day) – was just 30 years old when he proposed and shepherded the first Labor Day parade in 1882. |
It’s giving Father of Labor Day |
But even before he founded what would become a national holiday dedicated to the dignity of working people, McGuire spent his 20s developing his skills as an organizer and becoming a critical leader to the workers’ rights movement. (This was PEAK Gilded Age. But unlike the TV show, the railroad barons were NOT hot, just greedy.) Born in 1852, McGuire began working at just 11 years old when his father left to join the Union Army. During his teens, he quickly became involved with other agitators like Samuel Gompers – the future founder and first president of the American Federation of Labor. |
McGuire and Gompers, probably |
By 21, McGuire had become a well-known public spokesperson and negotiator. When New York City officials refused to grant a permit for a mass meeting in Tompkins Square Park, McGuire led a sit-in at the police commissioner’s office – securing the permit. |
At 25, he moved to Missouri where he organized and won support for the first Bureau of Labor and Statistics in the U.S. – giving policy makers much needed insight into working people’s lives. He was appointed deputy commissioner of the new bureau but left to focus on his biggest passion: organizing workers. |
McGuire doing the math for working Missourians |
From 27-29, McGuire organized St. Louis carpenters thoroughly and won such impressive wage gains for them that it attracted the attention of carpenters everywhere, leading to the formation of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. They elected him their first secretary. |
A different but still badass Carpenter |
At 30, he moved UBC’s headquarters to New York where, at a meeting of the New York Central Labor Union, he called for workers to lead “a festive parade through the streets of the city” on the first Monday of September. It was the first Labor Day, and more than 30,000 marchers participated. |
At 32, his UBC delegation introduced a resolution to establish May 1, 1886 as the first May Day – when workers would institute an 8-hour work day (regardless of what their bosses demanded). When the day arrived, 350,000 workers struck more than 11,000 establishments across the country.
As he aged out of being called a young organizer, McGuire grew UBC into the AFL’s largest affiliate. One of his biggest accomplishments came at 38, when he personally organized another national 8-hour strike – this time with just the UBC. Together, their members secured one of the most impressive victories for trade union solidarity: More than 23,000 carpenters in 36 cities gained the 8-hour day, and some 32,000 more in 234 cities gained the 9-hour day.
For us, McGuire’s story is a reminder that when young people organize and lead – entire economies and countries can change. But most importantly, PEOPLE’S LIVES GET BETTER. That’s why we remain committed to this work and appreciate you being a part of it. Thank you for caring about and empowering young people to organize and lead,
NextGen America |
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