09/07/2026
Happy Labor Day from the Kokesh family -- where being a member of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Union is a lifelong commitment. The current owner, Joseph, was a part of the family business long before his apprenticeship -- watching his dad, grandpa, and great grandpa help the families of the St. Louis area with all their plumbing needs.
In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American laborer worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. As manufacturing increasingly supplanted agriculture as the wellspring of American employment, labor unions—which had first appeared in the late 18th century at the dawn of the labor movement—grew more prominent and vocal. Unions began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay.
On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.
In modern Labor Unions, like the one our team is a part of, ensure outstanding benefits, the highest level of training, safe and fair working conditions, and consistent licensing. This ensures that our customers are getting the most experienced plumbers coming into their homes.
Wishing you a happy Labor Day, full of friends and fun.
