NEW YORK − On a recent morning, as New Yorkers moved through Manhattan’s Union Square, they felt a refreshing breeze while catching transit connections and navigating between street vendors. Descending the square’s gently sloping granite steps, visitors entered an area that holds historical importance for labor movements in the U.S.

The inaugural Labor Day parade took place on the first Monday of September in 1882 at Union Square, named for its location at the intersection of major roads. This first parade was instrumental in raising awareness about labor rights across the U.S., leading President Grover Cleveland to designate Labor Day as a national holiday in 1894.

“Few places have been as pivotal for labor advocacy in the U.S. as Union Square,” expressed Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, an organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of neighborhoods around Union Square.

The area surrounding Union Square, more than today, was largely inhabited by working-class immigrants, noted Mary Anne Trasciatti, who directs the Labor Studies program at Hofstra University in Long Island. She pointed out the significance of New York City as a major hub for global commerce and how, on the day of the initial parade in 1882, workers felt a sense of ownership of the streets.

“New York is a financial powerhouse, the center of global finance,” commented Trasciatti to YSL News. “To see working-class individuals taking over the streets together sends a powerful message.”

Union Square’s Location

Union Square, located just south of Central Park, is strategically situated in Manhattan. It lies between 5th Avenue and 4th Avenue and connects with Broadway, which cuts diagonally across the square’s southeast and northwest corners. The park is positioned between 14th Street and 17th Street.

“Union Square serves as a critical junction, linking east and west, uptown and downtown,” remarked Lara Vapnek, a history professor at St. John’s University in Queens. “Additionally, it has numerous transport links, and its open space provides ample room for workers to gather.”

On a recent Friday morning, Nadia Arnett relaxed on a step facing 14th Street while savoring a pastry. She emphasized the importance of fair pay for workers, particularly for Black Americans who historically endured slavery without compensation.

“Labor Day represents that people should be compensated for their labor,” stated Arnett, 46, in an interview with YSL News.

Nearby, Johnny Marrero enjoyed a moment of relaxation while playing music from a portable speaker. Marrero, 63, shared that he worked as a porter cleaning Manhattan restaurants overnight until injuries led to surgeries on his arm and abdomen, leaving him unable to work. At Union Square, he focuses on positive experiences, saying, “I enjoy seeing people move about and play uplifting music so that passersby can feel good.” He added, “I’m just focusing on gratitude, which took me my whole life to discover,” mentioning that he plans to celebrate Labor Day with a barbecue alongside friends.

Union Square features a vast open area with paved walkways and some greenery. The southern section is highlighted by a large brick plaza, but seating is limited to a few stair steps in the expansive lower area of the park.

On Friday, while commuters rushed to catch the N, Q, and L subway lines, others sifted through pharmacy shopping bags, some asking for money or collecting aluminum cans to sell at recycling centers. The open space hosted over 100 individuals, but it felt uncrowded due to the square’s size.

The unique design of Union Square allowed for about 10,000 marchers and more than 20,000 onlookers to come together for the inaugural Labor Day parade, explained Kimberly Phillips-Fein, a history professor at Columbia University.

“Union Square is capable of accommodating many people,” Phillips-Fein noted. “The lower part seamlessly transitions into the streets, creating a distinctive public environment.”

Union Square: A Working-Class Hub in the 1800s

In 1882, there were many gathering spots for the working class around Union Square, including automat restaurants — the early versions of fast food — where customers could use coins to buy meals, according to Joshua Freeman, an emeritus history professor at the City University of New York Graduate Center.

“It’s quite nostalgic to think that people would go to cafeterias near Union Square to meet their coworkers, given that now it’s all done through Facebook or similar platforms,” Freeman shared with YSL News. “We lack the physical spaces we once had for these communal gatherings.”

Along 14th Street, there were affordable cinema options and budget-friendly department stores catering to the working class, a stretch famously known as the “Poor Man’s Fifth Avenue,” Berman noted.

The significance of Union Square as a bustling center for the working class helped in fostering worker solidarity. Various labor unions united to champion vital rights such as the 8-hour workday, the abolition of child labor, and equal pay for women, explained Vapnek.

“Many don’t realize that during the 1880s, labor laws were almost non-existent,” Vapnek added. “There were no regulations regarding work hours, making it crucial for workers to advocate for themselves.”

Since then, Union Square and its nearby areas have continued to be recognized as a pivotal location for leftist and progressive movements and labor organization in New York City, which has been deemed one of the most influential in the nation, according to Berman, who noted that the Communist Party of America was based near Union Square on 13th Street for a significant portion of the 20th century before relocating to 23rd Street.

All throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Union Square has remained a key venue for large protests and organizing efforts, Phillips-Fein pointed out, highlighting the site as a location for the main 9/11 memorial, protests against Middle Eastern wars, and Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020.

What Was the First Labor Day Parade Like?

The first Labor Day parade occurred before the national holiday was formally established, with around 10,000 workers taking time off to join the event, Freeman noted.

“It’s important to remember that this wasn’t on a weekend, so missing work was a considerable risk for these workers,” Freeman stated.

Taking place in early September, the workers paraded under warm, end-of-summer skies, accompanied by brass bands adding to the celebratory atmosphere, described Trasciatti. Thousands of union members from various trades, such as carpentry and construction, marched proudly behind colorful banners representing their unions.

“Union Square provided a space for working people to gather, listen to speakers, and march, making solidarity a tangible experience,” Trasciatti emphasized. “These gatherings transformed abstract concepts like solidarity into shared, lived moments.”

The collective pride and unity displayed during the event later shaped the way Labor Day was celebrated across the United States, Freeman suggested.

“The success of that first parade cemented its legacy as a holiday for workers,” Freeman concluded.

NYC Labor Day Parade 2024