The person credited with the formation of Labor Day is somewhat in dispute. Peter J. McGuire, a labor organizer who co-founded the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and the American Federation of Labor, is acknowledged by some, while others say it was Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union. What is agreed upon is that proposal of a national day of recognition of workers came on the heels of a large protest march of 200,000 in New York City in 1882 that both men played a part in organizing.
Many other notables have contributed to labor union advocacy, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a firm believer in the potential of unions, and Dolores Huerta, an activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962. These are just a few of the numerous people who have contributed to the protection, success and representation of labor throughout history.