Happy May Day

May 1st is International Workers' Day or as some call it May Day. The day recognizes the struggle of working people throughout the world. It is not officially recognized in the United States although the day was recognized initially in the U.S. in the 1800s. The day stood for the fight for an eight hour work day.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886. The eight hour day was not won easily. Many workers (coal mine workers, factory workers etc) were pushing ten or more hour work days. Eventually a strike was held. By April 1886, 250,000 workers were involved in the May Day movement.

The movement was organized primarily by the anarchist International Working People's Association. During the strikes the workers faced police brutality.

On May 4, three days after the nationwide strikes for the eight-hour day brutality hit Haymarket Square in Chicago. It was a mass meeting of persons in protest of the killing of workers by police. Seven police died and many civilians were killed by police.

Although it is not celebrated widely in the U.S. some communities celebrate with parades and art displays.

May Day is a time to recognize the not only the struggle to obtain an eight hour work day but also the spirit of camaraderie and workers uniting. Fair wages and proper working conditions were always the issues on the table. These folks relied on each other for support and worked towards making their own change.


Billy Bragg sings IWW song writerJoe Hill song There's Power in a Union

Utah Phillips sings union labor song Dump the Bosses

To learn more about the IWW (International Workers of the World) to their website.