Labor day is allotted to celebrate working people, laborers’ hard work, their sacrifices, their contributions, and their achievements throughout history. Labor day falls on the 1st of May in more than 160 countries. May 1 is a holiday in those countries. The USA and Canada celebrate labor day on the first Monday of September. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the first Monday that comes after May 1st is a day off. The fourth Monday in October is a holiday in New Zealand. In Australia, different states have separate holidays for each state, either on the first or second Monday in March, May, or October.
Industrialization
The years from 1870 to 1940 are called the ‘golden age of invention’, as many new inventions such as the spinning jenny and the steam engine, came up during this period. Earlier the economy was revolved around agriculture, farming, and, handicraft. The introduction of machinery in modern history changed the lives of people forever. Machinery was invented, so, machines were used for activities that needed human effort earlier. Steam power and other kinds of power were used in this period. And the factory system was adopted.
Industrialization: The Story of the Labor Day
Industrial Revolution happened in two phases. The years between 1750 to 1850 are referred to as the first industrial revolution and the period between 1850 and 1914 is the second industrial revolution. Especially the second industrial revolution saw unparalleled economic growth and improvement in living standards. Industrialization started in Britain and later spread to Europe, the USA, and other parts of the world.
Negative Aspects of Industrialization
There was a gloomy, bad side to the industrial revolution. People became increasingly money minded. While the industry owners became rich, ordinary people were exploited in the endeavors or economic prosperity.
Men, women, and, even children worked in inconducive work environments. But the factory owners were not concerned about the well-being of workers. An average working hour of a person was fourteen to sixteen hours a day, six days a week. People of all ages worked in perilous factories and mines that did not have proper ventilation and sanitary facilities. Even children who were 5, 6 years, and of age worked in mines. Many women and children were employed in textiles. The factory owners preferred to employ children as their fingers were small, so they could handle the threaded machinery delicately. Even though women and children added much economic value to the industry, they were paid less and considered less skilled. Yet they were forced to work 16 hours or more daily.
Negative Aspects of Industrialization: The Story of the Labor Day
Likewise, during the period that industrialization took place the common people became an exploited lot, while the factory owners and the industry owners became richer. An aversion to this system built up among the workers, which later became a labor movement.
In the 1880s the working people were frequently on strike due to bad working conditions and poor wages.
The Haymarket Riot
The Haymarket Riot is a landmark in the fight for the rights of laborers and the labor day. On May 4th, 1886 a labor protest was held at Haymarket Square in Chicago. The protest developed into a riot. An unidentified person threw a bomb at police killing seven policemen and one civilian. Eight labor activists were convicted. Seven of them were sentenced to death and one was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment even though there wasn’t evidence against them. Four men were hanged. One activist committed suicide. The two remaining activists’ sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
Many people and labor organizations believed that the sentences on the activists were unfair. So, they held them in esteem and reckon them, martyrs. Yet some people didn’t like the chaos and developed anti-labor sentiments.
The Haymarket Riot: The Story of the Labor Day
However, this incident became a turning point in America’s labor movement. American Federation of Labor was established. This incident incurred ardor and dedication toward labor movement in many people.
And also, many countries celebrate labor day on 1st May in line with this incident.
The First Labor Day
The labor movement which commenced in the USA in the late 19th century was centered around the slogan ‘the eight-hour workday. The socialist and labor parties in the USA created ‘The Second International’ organization. Moreover, this organization proclaimed May 1st as the national Workers’ Day. In addition to their demand for an eight-hour work day, their cause included fight against child labor, low wages and ,dreadful working conditions. So, 1st of May in 1890 has gone into history as the first labor day.
The First Labor Day
Protests were held throughout the USA and Europe. Further, More than 300 000 working people belonging to 13 000 businesses around the USA convened without reporting to work to fight for their rights on May 1st. In 1894 the USA declared the labor day as a federal holiday. Also, the continuous protests bore results at the end as the eight-hour work day was granted in 1916.
Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire
Honor for introducing labor day is given to Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire. They both were active unionists both strived for eight-hour work day. McGuire brought up the idea of Labor Day. He highlighted the importance and the purpose of labor day. Maguire took steps to execute the concept.
Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire: The Story of the Labor Day
Socialism and the Labor Day
Some associate the labor day with socialism. The use of red color which is a symbol of socialism is rampant. When the labor rights movements began, socialism was a new concept at the time. The working people embraced socialism as they believed it would bring them freedom and equality. The labor day was regarded as a commemorating event of workers’ struggle against capitalism. In fact, it was the ‘Second International’ of socialist and communist parties that suggested the labor day should fall on May 1st, in line with Haymarket riot which took place from 1st of May to 4th of May in 1886. It is believed that the first Monday of September was made America’s labor day later, instead of May 1st in order to make it less political.
Socialism and the Labor Day
The Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc nations adopted the labor day in 1917 after the Russian Revolution. Along the collapse of USSR, massive labor day celebrations diminished over time. Nevertheless, May day is a public holiday in many socialist countries and they celebrate the labor day. Moreover, in the communist countries, the working people appraise the great achievements in establishing socialism on the labor day. The countries that uphold capitalism consider the labor day as a day to remember for the struggle and political demands of working class.
How Labor Day is celebrated
Many events are organized on labor day to celebrate the day and it reminds laborer’s rights and their contribution to the society. Further, labor day is celebrated with political rallies, parades and speeches. Also, the events on labor day acknowledge and remind the labor rights. In countries such as UK and USA the labor day is celebrated with picnics and parties as well.
Socialism and the Labor Day: The Story of the Labor Day
All the working people owe the ancestors who fought for labor rights. If not the situation of the working people could be still dismal.
