(male narrator) The first Monday in September is Labor Day, which celebrates the American worker and the balance of work, rest, and play in our lives. Nowadays, the United States government guarantees citizens a safe place to work, fair pay, and time away from our jobs. But imagine a time when staying home on weekends or taking a vacation could mean getting fired? About 150 years ago, when millions of people began working in factories, mines, or on railroads, they often worked 12 hours or more seven days a week, sometimes in dangerous conditions. Even children went to work. To fight the unfairness, workers held marches, strikes, and protests across the nation to demand their rights to safety, rest, and fair pay. Their employers got the message. Eventually, the government passed laws requiring employers to keep workers safe and pay them a standard minimum wage. On June 28, 1894, the government established Labor Day as a national holiday in September to honor workers who fought for work that is safe for both body and mind. How do you balance work, rest, and play in your own life?