00:00 Labor Day originated from labor unions and is a day off for many people, although not everyone.

02:12 Labor Day in the US and Canada has been a national holiday since 1894, and it is believed to have been started by labor unions, with Peter McGuire and Matthew McGuire being the most likely originators.

04:40 Labor unions organized the first Labor Day parade to bring together different unions and demonstrate their common goals of a five-day work week and eight-hour work days, leading to the establishment of Labor Day as a national holiday, although it initially required a general strike to take the day off.

06:56 The Pullman Company workers went on strike after their request for shorter work hours and better pay was met with firing, leading to riots and overturning of railroad cars.

09:14 Labor Day has different names and takes place at different times around the world, with May Day being the international day of workers and often associated with communism.

11:25 Labor Day used to be a way for old money to distinguish themselves from new money, but now it's just seen as a joke, and union membership in the US has significantly declined since the 1950s.

13:51 Labor Day provides a quick break for kids who now have shorter summer vacations, and it's the end of the podcast episode.