Chicago has always been a labor town, which is why we’re diving into the local connection to Labor Day ahead of the holiday weekend.
Labor Then
President Grover Cleveland did not want states celebrating May Day, a spring holiday socialists abroad created to commemorate the fatal labor rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square in 1886.
Labor Day was made a federal holiday to appease the labor movement amid the Pullman Strike in the late 19th century, according to National Geographic.
Strikers during the Pullman Strike in 1894. (Kean Collection / Getty)
But it was largely seen as a performative gesture since Cleveland sent federal troops to the city to end the boycott. Strikers rioted, and the National Guard fired into the crowd and killed dozens of people.
What’s Happening on Labor Day in Chicago This Year?
On Monday, labor groups and activists will rally at the Haymarket Memorial in West Loop. The “Workers Over Billionaires” march will protest President Donald Trump’s threats to send the National Guard to Chicago.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s annual Labor Day parade will take place Sept. 6 in Pullman.
Where Else to Learn About Labor History
In addition to learning about the strike that led to Labor Day’s creation at the Pullman National Monument, check out these spots:
- The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum explores the birth of the Black labor movement.
- Illinois Labor History Society has an online tour about the Haymarket Affair.
- The Chicago History Museum features a permanent exhibition looking at workers’ rights and other struggles.
This article was originally published Aug. 30, 2023
