Labor Day

A Lasting Memorial to Workers

Peter McGuire was born in 1852 and died in 1906. As a young man he lived and worked in the tenements of New York City"s lower East Side in an age when one in every two carpenters were killed or permanently disabled by injuries from job related accidents and" wages were so far below the cost of a decent living that the most skillful carpenters were often reduced to the point of beggary." quote from Gabriel Edmonston First General Present (October 1904)

McGuire made a decision at an early age to devote his life to the cause of labor. He saw a need for change and committed his life to that end. He worked tirelessly to keep the union alive in the early years, and his efforts led to the 8-hour workday, founding of the AF of L, wages that more than doubled, safer working condition for laborers and union membership at more than 167,000 by 1903.

A great labor leader of the 19th century, Peter J. McGuire was one of the founding fathers of the Brotherhood, and was General Secretary for our first 21 years. He also created a lasting memorial to workers -- the Labor Day holiday.







IN MEMORY OF LOCAL 144 MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED ON





Brother Bernard T. Windham
February 25th, 1918 - February 10th, 2005 
Brother Windham joined the Union on November 7, 1952
He was an Honorany Member with 52 years service.