The Unsung Heroes Who Keep the Nation Running

Workers are the backbone of our great nation, keeping the lights on and the wheels turning every single day. From construction crews building our cities to teachers shaping young minds, these hardworking folks make our comfortable lives possible. They deserve mad respect for their dedication, sweat, and countless hours spent making America the land of opportunity. Without their tireless efforts, our society would grind to a halt faster than you can say “coffee break.”

It’s super important to get your students and kids clued in about this meaningful day. Labour Day isn’t just another three-day weekend – it’s about honoring the blood, sweat, and tears that built this country. One awesome way to spread the knowledge is through engaging Labour Day quizzes that make learning about workers’ history totally fun and memorable with TriviaMaker.

The Story Behind the Holiday That Honors Our Workforce

Labour Day kicked off back in the 1880s when workers were fighting tooth and nail for better conditions and fair treatment. The first official celebration happened on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. President Grover Cleveland made it a federal holiday in 1894 after the intense Pullman Strike showed America that workers’ voices couldn’t be ignored anymore.

Try These Ready-Made Labour Day Quizzes in Classrooms, Events, and Offices

Jump right into the action with these pre-built Labour Day quizzes that’ll get your classroom buzzing:

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100+ Labour Day Trivia Questions & Answers

History of Labour Day

1. What year was the first Labour Day celebrated in the United States? Answer: 1882

2. Which city hosted the first Labour Day parade? Answer: New York City

3. Who is credited with proposing the idea of Labour Day? Answer: Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire

4. What day of the week is Labour Day always celebrated on? Answer: Monday (first Monday in September)

5. Which U.S. President signed Labour Day into law as a federal holiday? Answer: Grover Cleveland

6. What major labor conflict led to Labour Day becoming a federal holiday? Answer: The Pullman Strike of 1894

7. Which state was the first to recognize Labour Day as an official holiday? Answer: Oregon (in 1887)

8. How many workers participated in the first Labour Day parade? Answer: About 10,000 workers

9. What organization organized the first Labour Day celebration? Answer: The Central Labor Union

10. In what year did Labour Day become a federal holiday? Answer: 1894

11. What was the main demand of early labor organizers? Answer: The eight-hour workday

12. Which decade saw the most Labour Day celebrations being established? Answer: The 1880s

13. What color is traditionally associated with the labor movement? Answer: Red

14. Which famous labor leader helped establish Labour Day traditions? Answer: Samuel Gompers

15. What was the original name for Labour Day celebrations? Answer: Labor Day Parades

16. How many states had recognized Labour Day before it became federal? Answer: 30 states

17. What time of year did early labor activists prefer for demonstrations? Answer: Fall (September)

18. Which newspaper first reported on Labour Day celebrations? Answer: The New York Tribune

19. What was the slogan of the first Labour Day parade? Answer: “Labor Omnia Vincit” (Labor Conquers All)

20. Which labor union was most instrumental in establishing Labour Day? Answer: The Knights of Labor

21. What European tradition influenced American Labour Day? Answer: May Day celebrations

22. How long did it take for Labour Day to become a national holiday after the first celebration? Answer: 12 years

23. What was the weather like during the first Labour Day parade? Answer: Sunny and pleasant

24. Which other country celebrates Labour Day on the same date as the U.S.? Answer: Canada

25. What percentage of American workers belonged to unions when Labour Day was established? Answer: About 3%

Famous Labor Leaders 

26. Who founded the American Federation of Labor (AFL)? Answer: Samuel Gompers

27. Which labor leader was known as “Mother Jones”? Answer: Mary Harris Jones

28. Who led the United Farm Workers union? Answer: César Chávez

29. Which labor leader was associated with the Industrial Workers of the World? Answer: Big Bill Haywood

30. Who was the first woman to head a major American labor union? Answer: Joyce Miller (Coalition of Labor Union Women)

31. Which labor leader organized the Pullman Strike? Answer: Eugene V. Debs

32. Who founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters? Answer: A. Philip Randolph

33. Which labor activist fought for miners’ rights? Answer: John L. Lewis

34. Who was known as the “Angel of the Miners”? Answer: Mother Jones

35. Which labor leader helped establish the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)? Answer: John L. Lewis

36. Who led the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike? Answer: T.O. Jones and the AFSCME union

37. Which female labor leader was known for organizing textile workers? Answer: Dolores Huerta

38. Who was the longest-serving president of the AFL-CIO? Answer: George Meany

39. Which labor leader was imprisoned for opposing World War I? Answer: Eugene V. Debs

40. Who organized the “Bread and Roses” textile strike? Answer: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

41. Which labor leader was known for the phrase “Solidarity Forever”? Answer: Ralph Chaplin (songwriter)

42. Who founded the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union? Answer: Multiple founders, including Rose Schneiderman

43. Which labor leader was associated with the Homestead Strike? Answer: Hugh O’Donnell

44. Who was the first African American to lead a major labor union? Answer: A. Philip Randolph

45. Which labor activist was known for organizing migrant farm workers? Answer: César Chávez

Worker Rights and Unions

46. What does the term “collective bargaining” mean? Answer: Negotiating employment terms between unions and employers

47. How many hours constitute a standard full-time work week in the U.S.? Answer: 40 hours

48. What is the federal minimum wage in the United States? Answer: $7.25 per hour (as of 2023)

49. Which act established workers’ right to organize unions? Answer: The National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)

50. What does “OSHA” stand for? Answer: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

51. Which amendment to the Constitution relates to workers’ rights? Answer: The First Amendment (freedom of assembly)

52. What is a “closed shop” in labor terms? Answer: A workplace where only union members can be hired

53. What does the term “strike” mean in labor relations? Answer: Workers refusing to work to protest conditions or demand changes

54. Which law established the 40-hour work week? Answer: The Fair Labor Standards Act

55. What is “workers’ compensation”? Answer: Insurance providing medical benefits for work-related injuries

56. What does the acronym “NLRB” stand for? Answer: National Labor Relations Board

57. What is the difference between a union and a guild? Answer: Unions represent workers; guilds traditionally represented craftsmen

58. What is a “picket line”? Answer: Workers protesting outside their workplace during a strike

59. Which act prohibits discrimination in employment? Answer: The Civil Rights Act of 1964

60. What is “at-will employment”? Answer: Employment that can be terminated by either party at any time

61. What does “right-to-work” legislation mean? Answer: Laws that prohibit requiring union membership for employment

62. What is the purpose of labor unions? Answer: To protect workers’ rights and improve working conditions

63. What is a “lockout” in labor relations? Answer: When employers prevent workers from entering the workplace

64. Which federal agency enforces workplace safety standards? Answer: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

65. What is “overtime pay”? Answer: Extra compensation for working more than 40 hours per week

66. What does the term “scab” mean in labor relations? Answer: A worker who crosses a picket line during a strike

67. What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Answer: The Law providing unpaid leave for family and medical reasons

68. What percentage of American workers belonged to unions in 2023? Answer: Approximately 10.1%

69. What is a “yellow-dog contract”? Answer: An agreement where workers promise not to join a union

70. What does “seniority” mean in workplace contexts? Answer: Priority based on length of employment

International Labor Movement 

71. On what date do most countries celebrate International Workers’ Day? Answer: May 1st

72. Which country started the tradition of May Day celebrations? Answer: Germany/Europe

73. How many countries officially celebrate Labour Day or Workers’ Day? Answer: Over 80 countries

74. What does “May Day” commemorate internationally? Answer: Workers’ rights and the labor movement

75. Which international organization promotes workers’ rights globally? Answer: International Labour Organization (ILO)

76. In which year was the International Labour Organization founded? Answer: 1919

77. What is the slogan of the international labor movement? Answer: “Workers of the world, unite!”

78. Which event inspired international May Day celebrations? Answer: The Haymarket Affair in Chicago

79. How many member states belong to the International Labour Organization? Answer: 187 member states

80. What is the “Eight-hour day movement”? Answer: Global campaign for an eight-hour work day

81. Which country has the strongest labor union membership rate? Answer: Iceland (over 90%)

82. What does the term “solidarity” mean in labor contexts? Answer: Unity and mutual support among workers

83. Which international treaty protects workers’ rights? Answer: ILO conventions and recommendations

84. When was the first International Workers’ Congress held? Answer: 1889 in Paris

85. What color is universally associated with the labor movement? Answer: Red

Fun Facts About Different Professions

86. What profession is known as “America’s Dairyland” workers? Answer: Dairy farmers (especially in Wisconsin)

87. Which job has the motto “Neither snow nor rain nor heat…”? Answer: Postal workers

88. What do you call someone who designs and builds bridges? Answer: Civil engineer or structural engineer

89. Which profession requires passing the bar exam? Answer: Lawyer/Attorney

90. What is a person who studies weather called? Answer: Meteorologist

91. Which job involves extinguishing fires and rescuing people? Answer: Firefighter

92. What do you call someone who cuts and styles hair? Answer: Barber or hairstylist

93. Which profession involves flying commercial aircraft? Answer: Airline pilot

94. What is a person who teaches at a university called? Answer: Professor

95. Which job involves treating sick animals? Answer: Veterinarian

96. What do you call someone who repairs cars? Answer: Mechanic or automotive technician

97. Which profession involves designing buildings? Answer: Architect

98. What is a person who grows crops called? Answer: Farmer

99. Which job involves delivering babies? Answer: Obstetrician or midwife

100. What do you call someone who catches fish for a living? Answer: Commercial fisherman

101. Which profession involves writing news stories? Answer: Journalist or reporter

102. What is a person who bakes bread and pastries called? Answer: Baker

103. Which job involves defending clients in court? Answer: Defense attorney or public defender

104. What do you call someone who repairs electrical systems? Answer: Electrician

105. Which profession involves taking care of patients in hospitals? Answer: Nurse

106. What is a person who drives trucks long distances called? Answer: Long-haul trucker

107. Which job involves training athletes? Answer: Coach or athletic trainer

108. What do you call someone who designs computer software? Answer: Software developer or programmer

109. Which profession involves managing money and investments? Answer: Financial advisor or accountant

110. What is a person who entertains children at parties called? Answer: Children’s entertainer or clown

Why TriviaMaker is Perfect for Every Educational Setting?

TriviaMaker‘s Labour Day quizzes aren’t just for traditional classrooms – they’re perfect for homeschool families, corporate team-building events, community centers, and even workplace training sessions. Whether you’re teaching third-graders about basic worker appreciation or facilitating professional development workshops, our platform adapts to your needs like a chameleon. The customization options are endless, so you can tailor content for any age group or knowledge level.

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TriviaMaker will help you create memorable learning experiences that stick with students long after Labour Day weekend ends. It’s a different Game style and different Game modes turn boring lectures into interactive learning. Our commitment to excellence and user satisfaction has made us the go-to choice for educators who want to make a real difference in their students’ lives.