Millions of people celebrate May 1 as a day devoted to the rights of workers and the working class. Labour Day is often marked as a public holiday in countries such as India, Australia and large parts of Africa. Even the UK celebrates the day - with a large May Day march organised to take place in London today. Why is Labour Day associated with May Day? May Day is a public holiday heralding the arrival of spring on May 1.
May Day dates back centuries and originated as a pagan festival in the Roman era, although it later became known as Gaelic May Day - or Beltane - in Ireland and Scotland as a halfway date between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The date was adopted by left-wing political parties to commemorate workers killed in the Haymarket massacre in Chicago on May 4, 1886. A rally, which began peacefully in support of the eight-hour day, descended into violence after a person throw a dynamite bomb at police. The blast and resulting gunfire from officials resulted in the deaths of seven police officers and at least four others, leaving many others wounded.
Dmitry Feoktistov/TASS Labour Day 2018: When is it? Why is it associated with May Day?
May 1 became known as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day and synonymous with the fight for the eight-hour day movement, especially as the popularity of trade unions and labour movements surged in the 19th century. But the same date was not chosen everywhere - in the US and Canada, Labour Day was established as an official bank holiday in September and not on May 1. But May 1 is celebrated as International Workers’ Day in the US and is now commonly used a day to hold mass protests to celebrate labourers. Many other countries continue to celebrate Labour Day on May 1.
AFP/Getty Labour Day 2018: Indian activists from the Communist Party of India
In India, May 1 is known as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas and is tied to labour movements for communist and socialist political parties. Anti-capitalist protests have also becomes synonymous with the date. In recent years, many large-scale rallies have taken place in major British cities including London and Edinburgh. This year, protestors are expected to march in London in support of workers’ rights and trade unions.
AFP/Getty Labour Day 2018: Indonesian workers take part in a May Day rally in Jakarta
Labour is a physical and conscious activity which, in history, has been applied to harness tools with raw materials from a geographical environment in order to obtain food, shelter and dresses by and, for, beings which needed them for living.
By Kajabago-Ka-Rusoke
First of all what is labour and why put aside a special day for commemorating it?
Labour is a physical and conscious activity which, in history, has been applied to harness tools with raw materials from a geographical environment in order to obtain food, shelter and dresses by and, for, beings which needed them for living.
To begin with, these beings were simple ones but as they came across tools and began using them, regular practice from century to century turned their forelimbs into special organs of their bodies until they became erect where in science; they have been referred to as homo – erectus, meaning standing upright.
This is because prior to the labour activity these beings were walking on four limbs. Because their forelimbs became special organs for handling tools and objects for use, these forelimbs came to be known as hands and these beings being referred to as homo – habilis, meaning handy beings.
But as all these activities took place, they again had a great impact on the brain of these beings.
They gradually acquired a highly developed thinking power. Because they became thinking beings, they were referred to as homo – sapiens, meaning brainy and thinking beings. Thus homo – habilis, homo – erectus and homo-sapiens, all put together, illustrate the role labour has played in history in creating the modern socio – economic beings, namely the hu – man and the hu – woman ones.
In 1882, Peter J.MeGuire, in the USA, founded carpenters’ union and proposed celebrating a Labour Day. Later a parade was held in New York City on the first Monday of September that year in honor of workers.
In 1886, USA had the American Federation of labour which named May 1, as the day when all workers should struggle for an eight hour day. This also became a labour holiday then.
In 1887, the USA state of Oregon declared first Monday of September a legal holiday for all workers.
In 1889, there existed the international working men’s Congress of France in Paris. This urged all workers worldwide to demonstrate in favor of an eight hour working day on 1st May, 1890.
In 1894, 31 states in the US adopted first Monday of September as a legal holiday. In the same year, the US Congress made it a national holiday.
Lessons
Looking at production units from extractive, manufacture, distribution and exchange it is obvious that all are conducted by labour.
There is not any tool, machine, or raw material in any production unit in the whole world which is not a product of labour, either of one who has already died or one who is still alive. All use values are symbols of concrete labor.
Concrete labour is different from abstract labour. Abstract labour is just what one thinks should be done and how it should be done. But that thinker does not take part in physically doing or putting in place what he or she has proposed. There is no physical suffering on his or her part. This is where labour power differs from labour itself.
Labour is like eating but there must be digestion power. Labour power differs from real labour in the sense that it is the very inner ability in a labourer which enables him or her to create a use value of any description.
Labour power comes from the type of food, house, dresses the labourer uses to live in such a way that can enable him or her to produce efficiently. It is also a commodity which is exchanged for a wage. All employers should therefore pay attention to the required welfare of all their workers.
Workers will take care of all the machines, raw materials and buildings properly when they find friendly employers.
There should be arrangements to cater for higher technical knowledge and education on the part of workers in order to improve upon the quality of each and every economic unit either extractive or manufacturing. For the quality of the unit will depend on the technical quality of the worker on the machine.
Workers should be exposed to political economy plus their relationship with the state apparatus and law. They should be encouraged to be socially conscious in order to pay attention spiritually to what is really necessary in society from their productive power in all economic units.
The above – mentioned type of social consciousness to be put in place, must be based on well – arranged retreats according to the academic grades of various workers who should go to institutions like the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi or, seminars wherever suitable.
Seminars should also be arranged for investors for the sake of mutual national spiritual understanding concerning the nature of economy that may be put in place for the welfare of the whole people.
Let us pay attention to peasant labour. Go to each and every peasant farmer; organise them into collective groups according to the geographical nature of their regions. Provide them with modern tools for large – scale production, like tractors. Sensitise them deeply about large – scale production which must lead towards large – scale marketing through marketing cooperatives by themselves. Hold lectures and seminars in villages in local languages emphasising the need for economic collectivism on which to build patriotism, avoiding mutual mistrust and antagonism.
Establish a mixed economy of state sector by and through dedicated patriotic cadres, then cooperatives, plus private sector to fill in loopholes.
Establish a strong alliance between wage – earners and farmers as a basis for patriotism in the economic base, giving rise to a politically well – oriented political organisation for a pro – people state power in the hands of a pro – worker – farmer intelligentsia.
The writer is a Senior Presidential Adviser on Ideology
Kutesa, who is the Mawogola North MP, said he would cater for the meals of over 30,000 people expected to attend the celebrations.
Kutesa, who is the Mawogola North MP, said he would cater for the meals of over 30,000 people expected to attend the celebrations.
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY
SEMBABULE - Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa offered close to sh100m to help fund the national Labour Day celebrations underway in Sembabule district at the district playground.
President Yoweri Museveni is presiding over the celebrations as the chief guest.
He commissioned the district women SACCOS initiated by Edith Kutesa and the new National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) line in the district.
The NWSC line connects Kyabi, Rutunku, Lugusulu, Nambirizi, Kabundi, Mijwala and Ssembabule town council.
Over 5,000 trees will also be planted in Ssembabule town council and Kakinga dam, in Lwemiyaga, as part of the celebrations.
Kutesa, who is the Mawogola North MP, said he would cater for the meals of over 30,000 people attending the celebrations.
During the preparation meeting on April 29, at the district headquarters, Kutesa grilled the district authorities for failing to account for the initial sh21m he had provided for the function.
This was after the district finance officer, John Musinguzi, said they needed more money to complete the works at the playground.
Kutesa said the contribution of 1,000 litres of fuel from Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the sh8m from the district, sh12m from the labour ministry and machinery from China Rail Company on top of the sh21m, was sufficient to complete the task.
Musinguzi had earlier said the 987 litres of fuel from UNRA were not delivered on time, forcing the district to divert sh5m towards fuel.
Kutesa also provided buses to transport the elderly and disadvantaged people in the hard-to-reach rural areas to the venue of the celebrations.
This year’s Labour Day celebrations are being be held under the theme ‘Promoting the public spirit in the public sector’ According to the ministry of Gender, the theme calls upon all public servants to act in the interest of the public they serve.
This means that public officials must perform their functions and duties, and also exercise any discretionary powers, in ways that promote the public interest. About Sembabule district Sembabule District is a district in the Central Region of Uganda. The town of Sembabule is the site of the district headquarters. Other urban centers in the district include Lwemiyaga and Ntuusi. Sembabule is bordered by Mubende to the north, Gomba to the northeast, Bukomansimbi to the east, Lwengo to the south, Lyantonde to the southwest, and Kiruhura to the northwest. The town of Sembabule is about 48km northwest of Masaka town. Sembabule was carved out of Masaka in 1997. The district is generally a rural district that receives relatively low rainfall and has long dry spells. This greatly affects agriculture, but cattle keeping is not seriously affected. Some cattle are reared on ranches. Ranching and dairy farming are the backbone of the district's economy. In 1991, the national population census estimated the district population at 144,040. The 2002 national census estimated the population at 180,050, with an annual growth rate of 2 percent. In 2012, the population was estimated at 219,600. Agriculture is the mainstay of the district economy. Agriculture involves both crop and animal husbandry. Because of the relatively dry climate, cattle ranching for beef and dairy farming are the most important economic activities in the district. Fish farming is being implemented increasingly in the district as well. The produce of the district is marketed in Uganda's larger cities and in area towns including Kampala, Masaka, and Rakai. In the area around Bwera, there is a site known as Bigo bya Mugenyi, which appears to be the location of human settlement dating back to the late Iron Age (1200 - 1000BC). Excavations at the site have yielded iron blades (most probably used for harvesting grain), pottery with simple decorations, cattle dung, and post-holes for fencing.
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