Baltimore and the birth of organized labor: a Labor Day story

The history of organized labor in the United States is one of struggle against seemingly hopeless odds, with victories often decades in the making. It’s a history in which Baltimore plays a proud part. In fact, the city can lay some claim as the birthplace of the national organized labor movement, more than 150 years ago. We recount the tale each year, our own Labor Day tradition, in honor of the many essential workers who gave the rest of us some measure of comfort amid the pandemic, by simply going to work.