observed the first Monday in September Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers the holiday is rooted in the late 19th century when labor activists pushed for a Federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America's strength prosperity and well-being early adopters before it was a federal holiday Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states after Municipal ordinances were passed in 1,885 and 1886 a movement developed to secure State legislation New York was the first state to introduce a bill but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day on February 21st 1887 during 1887 four more States Colorado Massachusetts New Jersey and New York passed laws creating a Labor Day Holiday by the end of the decade Connecticut Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit by 1,894 23 more States had adopted the holiday and on June 28th 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday muua V Maguire who founded Labor Day who first proposed the holiday for workers it's not entirely clear but two workers can make a solid claim to the founder of Labor Day title some records show that in 1882 Peter J mcgear generalist Secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor suggested setting aside a day for a general holiday for the laboring classes to honor those who from rude nature have dealt and carved all the Grandeur we behold uh but Peter Maguire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire not Peter Maguire founded the holiday Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew magar later the Secretary of local 344 of the International Association of machinis in pachas New Jersey proposed the holiday in 18 1880 to while serving as Secretary of the Central laas orish in in sat aork according to the New Jersey Historical Society after President Cleveland signed the law creating a National Labor Day the partisan Morning Call published an opinion piece part the souvenir pen should go to Al Alman Matthew magu of this city Who is the Undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday both Maguire and Maguire attended the country's first Labor Day Parade in New York City that year the first Labor Day the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday September 5th 1882 in New York City in accordance with the plans of the trans Central labor union the central labor union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year lat on September 5th 1883 by 1,894 23 more States had adopted the holiday and on June 28th 1894 president Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday a nationwide holiday many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parajes and parties festivi is very similar to those outl by the first proposal for a holiday which suggested that the day should be observed with a street parad to exhibit the strength and a spr dor of the trade and labor organizations of the community followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families this became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and Civic sign significance of the holiday still later by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor Convention of 1909 the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement American labor has raised the nation's standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy it is appropriate therefore that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation strength freedom and Leadership the American worker Hall of honor indues the labor hall of Honor recognizes individuals and groups whose distinctive contributions to the field of Labor have enhanced the quality of life of millions yesterday today and for generations to come nominees are considered on a rolling basis and formal induction ceremonies are conducted at the US Department of Labor in Washington DC you can read more about each member of the hall by clicking on the names listed below e