Today in the United States September 1 is celebrated as Labor Day: The last bastion of summer; the last big hurrah; the three-day weekend of barbeques and beaches before autumn sets in. The holiday is meant to honor the American worker -- The average Jacks and Jills who go to work every day, make living, raise families, and making this country function. But it didn't begin as fun and games and backyard BBQues.
THE ORIGINAL LABOR DAY
Back in the 19th century, while some children in white danced around May poles to celebrate spring, other children worked in coal mines and performed other hard-labor. The Second Industrial Revolution witnessed numerous workers dying every day from long hours and terrible working conditions, and everyone breathed the smoke-filled air belching in black clouds from industrial smoke stacks.
Workers began to grumble about working conditions, and labor organizations sprang up both in Europe and America. In 1866, the National Labor Union was formed in the US as people become vocal about their rights, the need for safer conditions, and shorter work hours.
THE HAYMARKET RIOTS
Chicago had been a center of work-related agitation for some time, and a railroad strike in 1877 had ended in violence. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (FOTLU) chose to hold their national convention in Chicago where they issued an ultimatum that after May 1, 1886, the legal work day would be eight hours.
Two years later, when that FOTLU deadline approached, “an estimated quarter million workers in the Chicago area became directly involved in the crusade to implement the eight hour work day, including the Trades and Labor Assembly, the Socialistic Labor Party and local Knights of Labor,” according to an archived synopsis published by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1993. msn.com/en-us/the-real-history-of-may-day/
THE ORIGINAL LABOR DAY
Back in the 19th century, while some children in white danced around May poles to celebrate spring, other children worked in coal mines and performed other hard-labor. The Second Industrial Revolution witnessed numerous workers dying every day from long hours and terrible working conditions, and everyone breathed the smoke-filled air belching in black clouds from industrial smoke stacks.
Workers began to grumble about working conditions, and labor organizations sprang up both in Europe and America. In 1866, the National Labor Union was formed in the US as people become vocal about their rights, the need for safer conditions, and shorter work hours.
THE HAYMARKET RIOTS
Chicago had been a center of work-related agitation for some time, and a railroad strike in 1877 had ended in violence. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (FOTLU) chose to hold their national convention in Chicago where they issued an ultimatum that after May 1, 1886, the legal work day would be eight hours.
Two years later, when that FOTLU deadline approached, “an estimated quarter million workers in the Chicago area became directly involved in the crusade to implement the eight hour work day, including the Trades and Labor Assembly, the Socialistic Labor Party and local Knights of Labor,” according to an archived synopsis published by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1993. msn.com/en-us/the-real-history-of-may-day/
Image Source: www.pixels.com
The generally quiet demonstration broke out in violence on May 3 at McCormick Reaper Works, where police and demonstrators clashed and set off a vicious scuffle that left several workers dead.
The next day, a large crowd gathered at Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest the previous day’s killings. At first, the proceedings were civilized, and even Chicago mayor Carter Harrison attended. Then someone in the crowd threw an explosive at the police. In reaction, law enforcement officers fired indiscriminately into the crowd which included workers and their own police officers.
Chaos and violence ensued between police and demonstrators with by-standers in between. At least 7 policemen were killed and sixty others injured. Sources claim as many demonstrators and civilians were killed and injured (without giving any statistics).
Reliable witnesses testified that all the pistol flashes came from the center of the street, where the police were standing, and none from the crowd. Moreover, initial newspaper reports made no mention of firing by civilians. A telegraph pole at the scene was filled with bullet holes, all coming from the direction of the police.
The Eight Men Convicted of Murder -- Haymarket affair in Chicago
I mage Source: pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/chicago-eight
The generally quiet demonstration broke out in violence on May 3 at McCormick Reaper Works, where police and demonstrators clashed and set off a vicious scuffle that left several workers dead.
The next day, a large crowd gathered at Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest the previous day’s killings. At first, the proceedings were civilized, and even Chicago mayor Carter Harrison attended. Then someone in the crowd threw an explosive at the police. In reaction, law enforcement officers fired indiscriminately into the crowd which included workers and their own police officers.
Chaos and violence ensued between police and demonstrators with by-standers in between. At least 7 policemen were killed and sixty others injured. Sources claim as many demonstrators and civilians were killed and injured (without giving any statistics).
Reliable witnesses testified that all the pistol flashes came from the center of the street, where the police were standing, and none from the crowd. Moreover, initial newspaper reports made no mention of firing by civilians. A telegraph pole at the scene was filled with bullet holes, all coming from the direction of the police.
The Eight Men Convicted of Murder -- Haymarket affair in Chicago
I mage Source: pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/chicago-eight
The friction between United States authorities and the labor move-ment continued from there. Eight anarchists were arrested and con-victed for murder for throwing the explosive at the police, even though only three were even present at Haymarket and those three were in full view of all when the bombing occurred. In 1889, May Day was chosen as the date for “International Workers’ Day” to commemorate the men convicted of the Haymarket affair murders, and the struggle for an eight-hour working day.
THE PULLMAN STRIKE
The Pullman Strike was two interrelated strikes in 1894 that shaped national labor policy in the United States during a period of deep economic depression.
The Pullman Strike occurred in Illinois on May 11, 1894. Without going into the gory details, three thousand railroad workers went on a wildcat strike without the authorization of their union because of the way George Mortimer Pullman, founder and president of the Pullman Palace Car Company, treated his workers.
Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_Strike
THE PULLMAN STRIKE
The Pullman Strike was two interrelated strikes in 1894 that shaped national labor policy in the United States during a period of deep economic depression.
The Pullman Strike occurred in Illinois on May 11, 1894. Without going into the gory details, three thousand railroad workers went on a wildcat strike without the authorization of their union because of the way George Mortimer Pullman, founder and president of the Pullman Palace Car Company, treated his workers.
Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_Strike
Ultimately, in trying to subdue the riots, thirty people were killed by the US Military and US Marshalls (some sources say hundreds, other say just a few). President Grover Cleveland made peace with the labor people, but fearing further conflict, the US Congress voted to approve rush legislation establishing Labor Day a national holiday. On June 28, 1894 (only a few days after the end of the strike), President Grover Cleveland signed into law a piece of legislation that created a national Labor Day Holiday in early September.
LABOR DAY IN THE US
Since 1882, various states and cities had been celebrating their own versions of Labor Day at different times of the year, but this action set the date for a national holiday and moved the event away from the May 1 “Workers’ Day”, the recognized date for radical labor protests in Europe.
The US. Congress feared the holiday would be associated with nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements and would appear to celebrate the labor riots of 1884, the Haymarket Affair in 1886, and other May Day riots. Everything is political, isn't it?
LABOUR DAY AND INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY
International Worker's Day recognizes the International Labor Movement and is celebrated on May 1 in at least eighty countries in the world, including most of Europe.
May 1 continues to be the day for protesting labor and other issues in these countries.
LABOR DAY IN THE US
Since 1882, various states and cities had been celebrating their own versions of Labor Day at different times of the year, but this action set the date for a national holiday and moved the event away from the May 1 “Workers’ Day”, the recognized date for radical labor protests in Europe.
The US. Congress feared the holiday would be associated with nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements and would appear to celebrate the labor riots of 1884, the Haymarket Affair in 1886, and other May Day riots. Everything is political, isn't it?
LABOUR DAY AND INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY
International Worker's Day recognizes the International Labor Movement and is celebrated on May 1 in at least eighty countries in the world, including most of Europe.
May 1 continues to be the day for protesting labor and other issues in these countries.
World Map showing May 1 Celebrations
Image Credit and Source: www.officeholidays.com
Red = Labour Day; Lt. Green = May Day, or Spring Celebration
Image Credit and Source: www.officeholidays.com
Red = Labour Day; Lt. Green = May Day, or Spring Celebration
 In 80+ countries people celebrate Labour Day with a protest. Labour Day protests in Indonesia Image Source: www.en.tempo.com |  In the United States we celebrate Labor Day by kicking back with a beer. Image Source: www.camtrader.ca |
JUST SAYIN!
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Sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/03/what-is-labor-day-and-why-do-we-celebrate-the-holiday-what-to-know/70667832007/
https://medium.com/@iluv2run5k/5-surprising-facts-about-labor-day-99add55260c4
https://www.learnreligions.com/beltane-rites-and-rituals-2561678
https://www.livefromtheloungepodcast.com/post/ep-10-history-of-labor-day-pullman-strike-of-1894
www.thefreedictionary.com/May+Day
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-may-day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
https://nationaltoday.com/may-day/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/445082375663782263/
https://www.vintagechicagopostcards.com/2020/11/haymarket-square-clash-between-police.html
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chicago-eight-anarchists
https://daily.jstor.org/how-labor-lost-may-day/
https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-first-Labor-Day/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-real-history-of-may-day/ar-BB1g7fq4?fullscreen=true&cvid=0c753a732e594f5293cc01dae5656548#image=1
https://www.telesurenglish.net/multimedia/Workers-Right-Groups-Commemorate-May-Day-Worldwide-20190501-0013.html
https://thenewamerican.com/traditional-may-day-protests-in-france-become-violent-riots/
https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/world/2017/may/01/may-day-in-pics-protesters-worldwide-demand-better-work-conditions-higher-wages-100415.html
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Sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/03/what-is-labor-day-and-why-do-we-celebrate-the-holiday-what-to-know/70667832007/
https://medium.com/@iluv2run5k/5-surprising-facts-about-labor-day-99add55260c4
https://www.learnreligions.com/beltane-rites-and-rituals-2561678
https://www.livefromtheloungepodcast.com/post/ep-10-history-of-labor-day-pullman-strike-of-1894
www.thefreedictionary.com/May+Day
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-may-day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
https://nationaltoday.com/may-day/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/445082375663782263/
https://www.vintagechicagopostcards.com/2020/11/haymarket-square-clash-between-police.html
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chicago-eight-anarchists
https://daily.jstor.org/how-labor-lost-may-day/
https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-first-Labor-Day/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-real-history-of-may-day/ar-BB1g7fq4?fullscreen=true&cvid=0c753a732e594f5293cc01dae5656548#image=1
https://www.telesurenglish.net/multimedia/Workers-Right-Groups-Commemorate-May-Day-Worldwide-20190501-0013.html
https://thenewamerican.com/traditional-may-day-protests-in-france-become-violent-riots/
https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/world/2017/may/01/may-day-in-pics-protesters-worldwide-demand-better-work-conditions-higher-wages-100415.html
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