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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2005
LABOR DAY: A TIME TO APPLAUD WORKERS
Jefferson City, MO – For over 100 years, Missouri has celebrated the contributions made by workers to the growth and prosperity of our country. In recognition of this holiday, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations would like to applaud nearly three million men and women working in Missouri.
“Working men and women today should stop and reflect on those American workers whose determination and hard work in the decades before allow us to have the freedom to enjoy this holiday,” said Tom Deuschle, director of the Missouri Department of Labor.
Missouri wasn’t far behind the United States Congress, declaring Labor Day a state holiday in April 1895, one year after the federal holiday was declared. Peter McGuire, known as the “Father of Labor Day” by some, also played a key role in Missouri labor history. After moving to St. Louis in 1877, McGuire helped win the Missouri’s legislature’s support for one of the first Bureaus of Labor Statistics in the United States. Still in his 20s, McGuire was appointed deputy commissioner of the new bureau but resigned in 1879 to organize a union of carpenters. In 2004, McGuire was inducted into the US Department of Labor’s Hall of Fame.
Missouri also has three labor unions that are honored in the US Department of Labor’s “Century of Service Honor Roll of American Labor Organizations.” The “Century of Service” honors labor unions that have reached their 100th anniversary. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of St. Louis was established in 1891; the Transportation Communications International Union in Sedalia in 1899; and the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers in 1903.
The job growth and economic forecast for Missouri workers remains strong. According to a Department of Economic Development report, Missouri created over 40,000 new jobs since January 2005 and the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent, down from 6 percent in January 2005. Leisure and Hospitality sector, along with the Manufacturing sector contributed the most job growth.
To further recognize the importance of Labor Day, the Missouri Department of Labor will send “Labor Day Activity Ideas” to various schools around the state, will have Labor Day displays throughout its Jefferson City buildings and will share a history of the labor movement with employees.
Although times have changed since 1895 when Missouri first declared Labor Day a state holiday, one thing remains the same – the commitment and hard work of Missouri workers to make this state the best place to work.
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Information and Planning · 3315 W. Truman
Blvd.
· P.O. Box 1958 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-1958
573-751-7500 · 573-751-6552 (Fax)
Relay Missouri: 1-800-735-2966 (TDD) 1-800-735-2466 (Voice)