Montpelier, Vt. – Commissioner Michael Harrington offers the following statement ahead of Labor Day:
“The Labor Day holiday is an opportunity to acknowledge the social and economic achievement of all workers. First observed on September 5, 1882, in New York City, Labor Day was later signed into law by President Grover Cleveland in 1894.
This year, as we pause to honor the hard work of all Americans over the years, it’s important to remember the incredible sacrifices made by so many over the course of the pandemic. From nurses and doctors to school bus drivers and store clerks, our nation’s workforce was thrust to the front lines of a major crisis for the first time in recent memory. The determination and ingenuity displayed during the last few years is the same that steered our country through two world wars, the Great Depression, and multiple recessions. It is also what fueled long periods of growth, drove important social and economic change, put a man on the moon, and brought about important protections for workers, all while putting food on our tables.
On behalf of all of us at the Vermont Department of Labor, I want to thank each and every working Vermonter for the role they play in keeping our state and nation moving forward.
It’s our honor to serve you.”
Learn more about the history of Labor Day at https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history