We want AMS to be the place where our employees get some enjoyment in their job as well as fair pay, health benefits, and a safe environment.
The History of Labor Day
A quick search tells us that Labor Day was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century, and it became a federal holiday in 1894. Obviously, there is a story here… what was the labor movement? Why was there a labor movement? We went to history dot com [LINK] for some history.
“In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages.
“People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.”
Well, that answers the question of what and why. Apparently when more manufacturing began to be done, labor unions started to form. The article continues with a story about labor unions from that time period:
“As manufacturing increasingly supplanted agriculture as the wellspring of American employment, labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent and vocal.
“They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay. Many of these events turned violent during this period, including the infamous Haymarket Riot of 1886, in which several Chicago policemen and workers were killed. Others gave rise to longstanding traditions: On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.”
Revolutionary Advancement
Labor Day commemorates a revolutionary and welcome advancement in American culture. Laborers were exploited and the work environments weren’t safe. The inhumane and unfair treatment of labor was confronted and through the unity of laborers, things were eventually made right. Violence sadly occurred, many wrongs were done, and yet here we are today, honoring our laborers. Here is just one story among many:
“On June 26, the American Railroad Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, called for a boycott of all Pullman railway cars, crippling railroad traffic nationwide. To break the Pullman strike, the federal government dispatched troops to Chicago, unleashing a wave of riots that resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen workers.
“In the wake of this massive unrest and in an attempt to repair ties with American workers, Congress passed an act making Labor Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. More than a century later, the true founder of Labor Day has yet to be identified.”
The Outcome
And there we have it. The story of how laborers fought for fair treatment. These efforts were more than 130 years ago. Has fairness been achieved? There are numerous employers that respect and appreciate the men and women working for the success of their business, so we would answer yes, in many ways fairness has been achieved.
AMS Fulfillment is proof that a business can consider employees stakeholders and still be successful. In other words, a business can do right and benefit from it. AMS considers its clients stakeholders, its employees stakeholders, our beautiful Earth a stakeholder and AMS itself a stakeholder – we have four and we see it as a recipe for success. A stakeholder means that when decisions are made, the well-being of clients, employees, the environment and the business itself are taken into account.
Have a Great Weekend
We asked Google about labor day parades – are there any going on: “Yes, you can find Labor Day parades in many cities across the country, as parades are a traditional part of Labor Day celebrations. To find a parade near you, you should search online for “Labor Day parades in [your city or region]” closer to the holiday, or check community event listings for your area.”
To all readers, we wish you an enjoyable Labor Day and thank you for your labor.
Readers are welcome to contact us at amsfulfillment.com.
