O N KOUL
International Workers Day ,also known as Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day is a celebration of labourers and working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on 1st May .
On this day we celebrate the workers and labourers and march for their rights against exploitation .It originated from eight -hour labour union movement .It is celebrated in countries like India ,China, Cuba among others and is a public holiday. This day originated as a union movement in the US around the 19th century. Labour Day is set to celebrate the hard work and achievements of the labor group .This is one day that is entirely devoted to the labor class .Many countries celebrate this day on different dates .However in maximum countries ,this day occurs and is celebrated on 1st May that happens to be international workers Day .
Labor Day marks the day in 1894 that congress declared the first Monday in September .The roots of Labor Day grew out of violent clashes between labor and police during the Haymarket Riots in 1886 ,when thousands of workers in Chicago took to the streets to demand an eight -hour work day .
In fact Labor Day is meant to honour and celebrate workers and the importance of their contribution to the nation and society. The Haymarket Affair became an international symbol of the struggle for workers rights and May first was chosen to be International Workers Day .On this day ,socialist parties and trade unions called for workers to demonstrate for the eight-hour day and in favour of peaceful protest.
The celebrations were declared by an international federation of trade unions and socialist groups to commemorate the Haymarket Riot in Chicago .The riots are also known as Haymarket affair and the 1st May is celebrated in honor of these riots and for agitating against the exploitation against the labors and the day is celebrated every year to remember Haymarket riots .
In 1889 ,May first was designated May Day ,a day in support of the demands of workers and eight hour day of toil .Thus May1 is celebrated as a public holiday around the world to celebrate the contributions of the workers on the International Labour Day .
The day celebrates the struggles of workers around the world to create a workplace that recognizes the dignity of labor. It is also referred as the eight-hour day movement ,which was a struggle that demanded eight hours for work ,eight hours for recreation ,and eight hours for rest .Labour Day celebrations are associated with socialist political movements around the world that demand equity in the work place.
The first Labor Day was celebrated on May 1,1889 as the International Workers Day .The celebrations were declared by international federation of trade unions and socialist groups to commemorate the Haymarket Riot in Chicago .The riots are also called as the Haymarket Affair ,which happened in 1886.The riots started as a peaceful march that demanded an eight hour work day but later turned into a violent clash between the protesters and the police forces.
While May one is celebrated around the world to signify the achievements of workers ,in some countries ,it is celebrated on a different date ,often one that is linked with the labor movement in that particular country. For example Bangladesh celebrates April 24 as the labor safety day in memory of workers that died in Rana Plaza building collapse .It also celebrates May 1 as Labors Day .In most countries ,labor is synonymous with International Workers Day .In China ,May 1 is a statutory holiday .It is important not to confuse May Day with Mayday .
While former marks the celebration of the struggle of the working class around the world ,the latter refers to a distress call .Mayday is an emergency ”procedure word ” used by aviators ,mariners, firefighters ,and police forces .Historically ,May Day was celebrated as a rural festival to celebrate the return of spring in Europe .This was linked with agricultural rituals and was primarily celebrated by Greeks and the Romans .However ,in the 20th century ,large -scale May Day celebrations in that region declined in importance .
In dozens of the countries around the world ,however ,May Day has been recognized as a public holiday ,and it continues to be celebrated with picnics and parties while serving as the occasion for demonstrations and rallies in support of worker .
In Europe May 1 was historically associated with rural pagan festivals but the original meaning of the day was gradually replaced by the modern association with labor movement Labor Day has its origins in labor union movement ,specifically the eight hour work day movement ,which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest .
For most countries ,labor day is synonymous with ,or linked with, International workers Day which occurs on 1 May. The story of Labor Day began with the rise in industrialization .The industrialists exploited the labor class in those days and it continues even today .
They took lot of work from them but paid them very less .Labors were forced to work for 10-15 hours a day in very tough conditions.
In fact International workers Day ,also known as Labor Day in some countries and often referred as May Day is a celebration of laborers and the working class that is promoted by the international labor movement and occurs every year on 1 May .
As said at earlier traditionally ,1 May is the date of the European spring festival of May Day .In 1889 ,the Marxist international socialist congress met in Paris and established the second international as a successor to the earlier international workingmen’s Association .They adopted a resolution for a ”great international demonstration” in support of the working class for the eight hour day .
The first May was chosen by the American Federation of labor to commemorate a general strike in the united states ,which begun on 1st May 1886 and culminated in the Haymarket Affair four days later .The demonstrations subsequently became a yearly event .
In Jammu and Kashmir also May first is celebrated by the trade unions ,workers bodies, leftist unions ,Marxists and government employees in favor of the labors and for demanding justice for the labour class and demands freedom from exploitation and on this day big processions and demonstrations are held in favor of the working class and it is demanded that fair wages and good working conditions should be ensured for the workers .
Let the workers of the world unite on this day and press for meeting their genuine demands including the eight hour working day .May the workers celebrate May first with the resolve to press for their demands by holding demonstrations and protests.
(The author is a columnist,social and KP activist).
