Labor Day celebrates the contributions of unions and laborers to the American economy

This Monday marks the 127th anniversary of Labor Day as a federal holiday. But did you know that its roots go back even further? Before being recognized throughout the U.S., Labor Day was a state holiday in places like Massachusetts, Colorado, and New York. In fact, the first Labor Day was celebrated in Oregon on February 21, 1887—about as far as you can get from the unofficial last day of summer. 

The holiday was established to celebrate American workers and the contributions that they—and the unions that often represent them—have made to the United States. While union participation has fallen off from its height in 1954 when membership included 35% of American laborers, the labor movement’s contributions continue to be felt today.

Union Efforts Helped Establish Today’s Labor Laws

In addition to pushing to make the first Monday of September a holiday, unions contributed to the establishment of norms that feel like they have always been there, like weekends and 40 hour work weeks. In 1870, before the rise of unions, the average workweek for most Americans was 61 hours a week! Unions have also contributed to the creation of unemployment benefits, employer-based health coverage, workers compensation laws, and the establishment of family and medical leave.

Popular Unions and Who They Represent

Today, close to 11% of U.S. workers are still members of unions. Here is a list of some of the largest ones and the types of workers they represent:

National Education Association

The NEA is currently the largest union in the U.S., representing 3 million members who work in public education. They include:

• Teachers
• School bus drivers
• Guidance counselors

Service Employees International Union

With almost 1.9 million members, the SEIU works with a wide range of employees in the healthcare field, as well as public workers and those in the janitorial and security industries. They include:

• Registered nurses
• Medical billers
• Security officers

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

With 1.6 million members, the AFSCME represents employees who work across all levels of the public sector. They include:

• University librarians
• Government accountants
• County attorneys

Teamsters

With 1.4 million members, the Teamsters (or International Brotherhood of the Teamsters) represent workers in various industries like trucking, warehousing, and air travel, as well as many others. They include:

• Truck drivers
• Zookeepers
• Warehouse workers

United Food and Commercial Workers

With 1.3 million members, the UFCW represents those working in industries like retail, grocery, and chemical. They include:

• Pharmacists
• Retail associates
• Grocery team members