ever wondered why we celebrate Labor Day Labor Day isn't just about a day off it's a tribute to the backbone of our nation the working class it all started in the late 19th century when workers fought for better conditions and fair wages it is also known as International workers with the growth of the Industrial Revolution came the demand for labor and trade unions around the 1850s 8-hour movements across the world aimed to reduce the Working Day from 10 to 8 hours at its first Congress in 1886 the American Federation of Labor called for a general strike in Chicago on May 1st to demand an 8-hour day which culminated in what is known today as the Hay Market affair