How and Why Do We Celebrate International Workers Day?
Often referred to as May Day and Labour Day in some countries, International Workers Day is celebration of the laborers and the rest of the working class, which is promoted by international labor movement on May 1 every year. This date was chosen by the socialist, anarchist, communist and labor movements. It was after many years that the first of May was declared a public holiday even though many countries celebrate it on a different date. This date was chosen to commemorate the Haymarket incident in Chicago on 4 May, 1886.
Since ages, May Day is a crucial point for demonstrations by anarchists, socialists and communists. It was on May 4, 1886 that a bomb blast killed about seven officers and four civilians. The peaceful demonstration by the workers soon turned into a devastating event. After the bomb blast, about eight anarchists were convicted and soon took position in the international headlines. This came to be known as the Haymarket Massacre.
This incident took place in Chicago where many workers were forced to work for 16 hours a day in harmful conditions. The strike in the Haymarket took place as an initiative by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada who decided to have an eight hour work day which was not successful.
On the day of the strike, about half a million American workers went on strike all over the country. Even though it was a peaceful demonstration, later when the police tried to disperse them, there was use of violence and hence, a bomb was thrown by one of the protestors.
However, the eight-hour work day rule was not recognized in the United States until 1916 when it was made a law. Now, International Workers’ Day on 1st May is celebrated through commemorations to the workers all over the world.
Team at World Infi