Happy Labor Day 2021 Published Sept. 5, 2021 By Allyson B. Crawford, AFLCMC Public Affairs Labor Day is an annual celebration of workers and their achievements. Known as the unofficial end to summer, the holiday is about much more than swimming pools and barbecues. During the industrial revolution, Americans - including children - worked long hours in dangerous conditions. In many cases, wages were low. Labor unions formed at the end of the 1800s in manufacturing plants across the country. Protesting poor conditions and low pay gained strength. Workers clashed with authorities, sometimes causing riots. Thanks to years of union pressure demanding a break for working Americans, Congress passed an act making Labor Day a legal holiday. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. The Department of Labor explains the entire history of the Labor Day holiday. AFLCMC Commander Lt. Gen. Shaun Q. Morris, provides some thoughts to Airmen on the Labor Day holiday: "On Monday, our nation will celebrate Labor Day, a day in which we recognize the workforce. As I mark one year as your Commander, I can’t think of a more appropriate day to reflect on the hard work accomplished by all of you. Though you have faced many challenges this year, you continue to persevere and work extraordinarily hard to develop, deliver, and sustain war-winning capabilities. I am incredibly proud of the AFLCMC team and I am grateful and honored to be a part of it."