How’s this for a strange idea: a day off from work in honor of work itself? Actually, that is what Labor Day, celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday of every September, is all about. The first American Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on September 5th, 1882, as thousands of workers and their families came to Union Square for a day in the park. It was not a national holiday but had been organized by a union to honor workers and their hard efforts with a rare day of rest, halfway between July 4th and Thanksgiving. There were picnics and a parade, but there were also protests. The workers had gathered, not just to rest and celebrate, but to demand fair wages, the end of child labor, and the right to organize into unions. During the period known as The Industrial Revolution, many jobs were difficult, dirty and dangerous. People worked for twelve hours, six days a week, without fringe benefits, such as vacations, health care and pensions, and if you were young, chances are you were doing manual labor instead of your ABCs and fractions. Children as young as ten worked in some of the most hazardous places, like coal mines or factories filled with boiling vats or dangerous machines. Trying to win better pay, shorter hours and safer conditions workers had begun to form labor unions in America and Canada, but the companies they worked for often fought hard to keep unions out and to supress strikes. At times, this led to violent battles between workers and business owners with the owners often backed up by the police, or even the military. In the following years, the idea of Labor Day caught on in America with official celebrations reaching 30 states. But then came the violent Haymarket Square Riot of 1886, which led to the deaths of several policemen and workers in Chicago and the execution of four union leaders. After that, many labor and political groups around the world had begun to mark Haymarket Square on May 1st, which became known as International Workers’ Day. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the law making Labor Day a federal holiday in America, only days after he had sent 12,000 soldiers to end a violent railroad strike that resulted in the death of several people. The original September date was kept, partly to avoid the more radical associations of May 1st. Canada also created its Labor Day in 1894. But, in spite of this new holiday, it would be a long time before the changes that workers wanted became a reality. In 1938, during the Great Depression that left millions without jobs, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a law calling for an eight-hour work day, a five-day work week, and an end to child labor, some of the first federal protections for American workers. As America and Canada celebrate Labor Day, most of the two countries’ children enjoy a day off from school. But it is important to remember that there was a time that everyday was a labor day for children in America and Canada, and unfortunately, the same fact remains true for millions of children around the world today.
The more you know
Well to be honest I don't speak Japanese but I'm sure I've read translations where they refer to Americans as both "Americans" and something along the lines as "State Unadians", as well as some African nations. But since my info is second hand I could be wrong.
Labor Day! Yayy, oh wait..my husband is still working =/
Yay! I get 2 days off this week!
You sound like a bigot.
You're a moron, the purpose of labor day is simply to have the day off, but it is ultimately the individuals choice (you're not required by law to take the day off, but you are protected if you want the day off). I have both worked on labor day AND taken the day off, it depends what I feel like–it's my choice, and that's exactly how it's supposed to be. "Happy labor Day", how fucking stupid can you be…
Well that's a firm accusation you're making there, buddy!
wtf!? we celebrate it in Bulgaria too
In Europe we also have the holiday, but it`s on May 1st.
Lol!
Christ how I hate spoiled anti-union western workers. It's like anti-vaccines: too easy to say you don't need it just because you don't know the illness anymore. Yes, in Europe they're a bit too institutionalized and they definitely need to rethink their organization but goddam, you're really stupid if you think that you as a single worker could deal with your employer on the same level, without the benefits unions fought to give you and their willingness to back you.
Well I know what to refer to myself in other parts of the Americans at least, which is probably the main area where people want the distinction. So thank you.
USAres or United Statesian. I hope there is someone out there that gets this reference.
I know he never landed in the US. I think I'll go with United Statan, cause you do not want to refer to anyone below the Mason Dixon line as a Yankee.
I live in Europe and usually go with Texan…….I love to see the confused looks on European faces until they remember that Texas is a part of the United States.
Yeah, I get what you are saying. But I can tell you that most people from the US would be insulted if someone referred to them with the last 3, and a specific section would really take offense to yankee. I looked up gringos and it seems ok, and United Statan seems the best answer I have gotten so far.
Yankee.
I really feel like making the joke "Despite what the natives believe, Texas is not its own country" But it seems a little poor taste, so I'll just leave it in quotes.
A certain part of the population would take offense to that.
😛 Though I agree with that calling anyone from the former Confederacy a "Yankee" will not generally go over well……..I resent it when my fellow europeans refer to me as a "Yank".
Yeah, no one likes being called a yankee. I'm from the north and I hate being called that.
The same in Mexico.
USAicans lol.
You're a dip shit… no reply needed or thought to that retarded ass comment.
Gringos
Cause it's the day before school starts for many. But yeah, after watching this video, you start to think of the millions of children who don't get to go to school and have to work instead, and you feel a bit more thankful that you have the opportunity to go to school.
Dude, I'd kill to start school the day after Labour Day. I've never started less than two weeks before that.
The reason why Europe is different is explained at about 2:15- May Day & Haymarket Square Riots
US Americans. Miss California nailed it back in 2008.
i wish i could just watch youtube instead of go to class. I learn from visuals and rewinding. Not a teacher….
Columbians?
well, some people in Latin America call Americans "unitedian"
we're not from columbia
I'm getting a lot of variations of that. And a lot of insults.
well in spanish they are called "Estado-Unidences", from "Estados-Unidos". But in english "United-Stadians of America" sounds lame 😛
So I think they should be called "people from United-Stades of America"
that seems to be the best I've gotten so far.
Amurica…lawl.
I agree, every lesson in history class should be delivered this way, kids can't complain about the teacher being boring.
Just curious, could you mention anything specific about any Canadian connections to Labour Day? Feels like any mention of Canada in this video was a footnote, like nobody had actually bothered to do any research on Canadian labour history.
Yeesh, doesn't anyone watch the whole video before commenting?
Great Video…Very insightful
TED is based in the US and we don't care about Canadian anything
May 1st? that is silly!
Great information… need to talk faster. This video should have been less than 3:00 given amount of information. It's not even a natural pace, the narrator is obviously pacing himself.
It depends on the union and you have to consider how their power comes about, basically through cooperation of members. The real problem with unions is that while it might seem obvious to create and join them, the reality of what it takes to make a successful union can be unpleasant, and the fact that union leaders are people, the same as the business owners. But to say that it's bad for workers to have the ability to join together and bargain collectively is ridiculous.
Why are non-Americans so hot to be called Americans? Why is it so important to you that we stop calling ourselves Americans? Your country has a name. If you're Colombian, for example, what do you care?
I agree, I know about Europe, I'm from Brussels, Belgium, but living in the US since 1994 (age 13) up until now. I prefer May 1st.
Labour day baby
I'm French Canadian and in my college books Americans are, most of the time, called états-unien.
first french version I've gotten. I've gotten a lot of spanish that is about the same. So I guess I need to start referring to myself as a State Unadian, as everyone seems to suggest
also many other countries in the world outside Europe
May 1st is workers day all over the world… and is more important then ever for workers to protest and kick corporate butt
Wikipedia has a much more in depth history of Canadian Labour Day if you want to learn the finer details.
its because you have no history you just copied us
CUZ WE # 1
An old friend of mine said the very same thing about Unions. 🙁
Let's be honest here. Labor Day, as well as every other holiday, is all about businesses trying to sell you a bunch of stuff that you don't really need.
Merica
In China, the situation is the same as urs.
This is heartbreakingly beautiful
honestly, no. I'm all for protesting all the major holidays such as easter or halloween or xmas, but I truly don't see a commercial benefit for labor day. The only rise in sales that you see is in beer, food, and paper plates. This trend was set by the people though, not the corporations. It is true though that because of this, beer companies will try to take advantage of the situation, but it's probably a pointless effort to advertise something people will buy anyhow.
I effortlessly earn over 3500 dollars every month just by answering basic surveys at home.
This site shows precisely how EARN88.COM
Do not read history. Read biography for it is life without theory.
Labor dictates the value of currency.
China knows this and is about to take corporate america to school.
Malls are still open and I work so it doesn't make a difference to me 🙁
I was a nice touch putting a u in the word labour for Canadian Labour Day.
thats so fucking gay
This is important to remember!
Hey, Ted-Ed – those four hanged were not "union leaders" – they were Anarchists – unaffiliated with the unions originally involved in the labor unrest that resulted in Haymarket. While their executions were themselves a miscarriage of justice (that's a whole other issue…), it is historically inaccurate to claim they were union leaders. Getcher facts straight.
Cool ww2 75 year also
Labour day, now I know.
We celebrate Labor Day too in the Philippines.
Live better work union!
we should encourage ugly and fat people to unite and have sex with each other and tell them it is ok to be ugly and fat … they need unions to make them feel better..they can be the new "dumb" class in society.. .. plenty of them already and also fat queens make them effeminate…if they cannot accept you being unbiased to them on the outside then do this to them…sandi halperrrt loves you obama
Wasasat !!!!!!!!
What the heck was that kooky, krazy, kommie video I just watched? Before FDR no kids went to school??? MUST re-LISTEN to minutes 3.43-3.50 — Wowza! What a pack o' lies! Hmmm…The first grammar school in USA was the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635. (That's round about close to 400 YEARS before FDR began wrecking America). In 1647 the Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted Old Deluder Satan Law, requiring any township of 100 households to establish a grammar school, and similar laws followed in the other New England colonies. Put that in your pinko pipe and smoke it! Freedom & Love 🙂
JUST IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT UNIONS!
we spell it with a u
Now I'm glad that if somehow Donald Trump becomes president and my family moves out of the country (Mom said we would if that happened), and we went to Canada (probably the most likely place to end up), I would still have Labor Day. I mean, why wouldn't we end up in Canada? They speak English. And they sell Mars Bars. Mmmmmmm.
i dont know about other countries but i really dont like labor unions in Philippines…..
bs4me. you should have the day off. bullshit
Ted should be ashamed of this inaccurate, over simplified and distorted representation of the facts.
I wanted to do an English lesson on this and I believe my students will find this video really useful, thank you!
In Brazil, Labor's Day is May 1st!
In Canada, Labour Day is usually the last day of summer vacation before school starts. At least, that's how it's been for me since I was in 1st grade.
Yeah, unfortunately child labor still exist😒😢
*Labour day
hi
Hello sir I'm also a motivational speaker n i have a YouTube channel which
https://youtu.be/nM8bJp9Ao7c
Please please please promote my YouTube channel
Add more canadian things please!!!!
great happy labor day t-shirt 2018 for workers
link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GRM1ZFJ
Great vid! Worthwhile to point out that Ottawa and Toronto held parallel labour day parades since 1872. Peter J McGuire actually attended the Toronto parade where he got the idea to hold a similar one in NYC a decade later.
Labor day is May 1,labor day in September was created by wallstreet / capitalists.
Honey R Siegal Stober Labor Day Mon 9/3/2018 Day 2988 We The People Against Corruption Campaign To Remove&Indict Obamas, Janet Napolitano, Trump et al. 9 days until anniversary 911. School used to reconvene after Labour Day earlier now part of the social geopolitical engineering breakdown of traditional family- summer family holidays and camp. Truth is the US is not the US nor Canada nor Mexico since 99 or before. see https://www.youtube.com/user/HoneySiegalSurvivor/feed
Wow good to know
Thank you for the good explanation and the visuals!
We had the May Day but that is was anti corporate, I mean anti American, according to it's "patriotic" detractors.
cool
If you’re doing history on two countries, you should have a partial view on the history of both countries, that video was %99 U.S. and %1 Canadian, sorry but the gesture of adding a “U” to the word Labour because you’re country doesn’t do the history of labour day in Canada justice.😤🇨🇦
3:56
Arriba España
This is important to do