Slice of Wisconsin: Our Labor Day History May Surprise You

What do you think about Labor Day and what it means do you think about Wisconsin?

You should, but let's go back to explain. In the mid-1800s activists pushed for a day

to recognize workers' contributions. President Grover Cleveland signed a law in 1894

making the first Monday of every September a national holiday. So where did the first

labor union form in Wisconsin? Wassa? Green Bay? Milwaukee? The answer coming up.

The Badger State has an impressive history. Brick layers and carpenters formed unions

in the 1840s and were the first to push for workers' compensation and unemployment insurance.

Now did you guess? This all happened first in Milwaukee. The state's labor unions formed in 1847

the National Labor Union didn't form until 1866 19 years later leading the way for other states

this slice of Wisconsin. I'm Terry Barr for the Civic Media Radio Network.