Labour Day 2018: The origin of May Day dates back to the 19th century, when trade unionists, socialists and communists in the United States demanded better working conditions, timings and wagers for labourers. (Express Photo/Partha Paul/File) Labour Day 2018: The origin of May Day dates back to the 19th century, when trade unionists, socialists and communists in the United States demanded better working conditions, timings and wagers for labourers. (Express Photo/Partha Paul/File)
Labour Day 2018 LIVE UPDATES: Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day and May Day, is celebrated on May 1 in India. The occasion pays tribute and respect to workers. The origin of the day dates back to the 19th century, when trade unionists, socialists and communists in the United States demanded better working conditions, timings and wages for labourers. They sought an eight-hour movement where only eight hours in a day were utilised for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest.
In India, Labour Day as a concept was introduced by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. Its leader, Comrade Singaravelar, first led celebrations on the occasion in Madras (now Chennai) on May 1, 1923 by holding two meetings, one at Triplicane beach and the other on the beach opposite the Madras High Court. The party passed a resolution stating that the government should grant workers a national holiday on May 1.
Several political parties and leaders have taken to social media today, to greet the nation on the occasion and acknowledge the efforts of hardworking people who contribute to the nation and society. President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, “The discipline and dedication of our countless workers continue to build our country and lay the foundations for a new India. They are our true nation builders.”
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Although in Britain May Day is traditionally a day of celebration - with its roots in pagan Anglo-Saxon customs and the pagan festival Beltane - across the world it is celebrated by many as International Workers' Day.
On this day every year the working classes and labourers are honoured in a day promoted by the international labour movement.
Today, a large number of countries around the world will celebrate a workers' day, with many workers having a day off.
It is a day for remembering those who died or have been injured at work and in recent years it has become a focal day for large-scale protests organised by socialist and anti-capitalist movements.
What are the origins of International Workers Day?
International Workers' Day or Labour Day (known as Labor Day in the United States) was first created in the late 19th century when the trade union and labour movements were growing in the USA.
International Workers Day has its origins in the labour union movement, and specifically in the eight-hour day movement, which called for workers to have eight hours for work eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest every day.
At the time, most workers were doing 10-hour days.
(Image: Getty)
May 1 was chosen to be International Workers' Day to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where a general strike was held in support of the eight-hour day.
On May 4, the police were trying to disperse supporters of the of the strike when someone threw a bomb.
Police responded by firing on the workers, and the blast and subsequent violence led to the deaths of seven police officers and at least four civilians.
The following day on May 5 in Wisconsin, the state militia fired on a crowd of strikers killing seven.
Hundreds of labour leaders and sympathisers were later rounded-up and four were executed by hanging in 1887, after a trial that was seen as a miscarriage of justice.
(Image: Rex Features)
In 1889 the original Socialist International was formed in Paris. It was an organisation of socialist and labour parties, with delegates from 20 countries participating.
It declared May 1, May Day, as International Workers' Day.
Although it is commemorating an event in America on May 1 Americans celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September, with some saying this is because May Day is considered a socialist holiday, associated with strikes, rebellion and, in some minds, even Marxist revolution.
Why isn't International Workers' Day a public Holiday this year?
In the UK the first of May is not an official "Labour Day" and we don't mark it with a public holiday, but it's celebrated by many workers and trade unions.
May Day has traditionally been a day of protest in the UK, with marchers calling for workers' rights and international solidarity.
In the past these marches have seen violent protests by anti-capitalist groups, with clashes between rioters and police in London for four years running from 1999 to 2002.
In 2000, masked rioters were seen smashing a McDonald's as Oxford Street was sealed off by hundreds of officers.
In Paris last year clashes between police and protesters turned violent, leaving six police officers injured.
(Image: REUTERS)
Recently, protests have been more peaceful in their nature and this year in London protesters are marching to Trafalgar Square where there will be a rally with many speakers from the unions. A full list of speakers and unions taking part can be found here .
Similar protests will be taking place in cities around the world.
In many countries May Day or International Workers' day is a public holiday but in the UK, May 1 is not a public holiday unless it falls on a Monday.
This year it falls on a Tuesday and we will be celebrating May Day with a Bank Holiday on Monday, May 7 .
(Image: Wheatley/WENN)
May Bank holiday opening times
If you are planning some festivities this Bank Holiday weekend, read on for our helpful guide on May bank holiday supermarket opening hours this Monday.
We have also put together this very handy guide for the department stores May bank holiday opening times including House of Fraser , John Lewis and Debenhams .
And, for those of you planning a spot of decorating this weekend, we've also covered opening hours for Wickes , Homebase and B&Q in our DIY stores bank holiday shopping guide.
May Day, Labour Day or Workers’ Day, the 1st day of the month of May is recognized as International Labour Day to celebrate the strength and dedication of the working class.Basically a European Spring festival, 1 May was chosen to be International Workers' Day to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. In that year beginning on 1 May, there was a general strike for the eight-hour workday. On 4 May, the police acted to disperse a public assembly in support of the strike when an unidentified person threw a bomb. The police responded by firing on the workers. The event lead to the death of eight and injury of sixty police officers as well as an unknown number of civilian killed or wounded. Hundreds of labour leaders and sympathizers were later rounded-up and four were executed by hanging, after a trial that was seen as a miscarriage of justice. The following day on 5 May in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the state militia fired on a crowd of strikers killing seven, including a schoolboy and a man feeding chickens in his yard.May Day is an important day for demonstrations by various socialist, communist and anarchist groups. It is also one of the most important holidays in communist countries such as the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba and the former Soviet Union countries. May Day celebrations in these countries typically feature elaborate workforce parades, including displays of military hardware and soldiers.It is the day to all of the labors who did their best in their work and struggled in the past when our country was ruled by the Britishers. On this occasion of May Day, we convey our best wishes and regards to all the labors and workers around the world.You deserve a big celebration for getting the job done every time. This is your day to relax, unwind and enjoy the company of good friends.Happy Labour Day! Remember that labor means hard-work but not at the cost of being deprived of your rights.Labour is the ladder through which human dignity and creative excellence is expressed. Happy Labour Day.There is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.A mind always employed is always happy. This is the true secret, the grand recipe, for felicity.Heaven is blessed with perfect rest but the blessing of earth is toil. ~Henry van Dyke God sells us all things at the price of labor. ~Leonardo da VinciThe man who doesn’t relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse, a little later on. ~Elbert HubbardWork isn’t to make money; you work to justify life. ~Marc ChagallWithout labor nothing prospers. ~SophoclesLabor was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labor, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased. ~Adam Smith
International Labour Day is also known as International Worker's Day, Labour Day and May Day. Labour is the part of society on which all economic advancement rests.
International Labour Day is celebrated across the world on 1st May to promote and encourage the international labour associations.
Even in the mechanical era of present time, the importance of labour is not decreased. For example industry, trade, agriculture, construction of buildings, bridges and roads etc. contribution of labour plays a crucial role.
Theme of International Labour Day 2018
The theme of International Labour Day 2018 is “Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement”.
International Labour Day provides the Labours their right to work for only 8 hours a day. This gives labour relief from the stress and pressure from lots of activities performed in a single day. Various Themes are provided by the Government to the people to focus on their Rights to be achieved in a better way.
History of celebrating International Labour Day?
On 1 May, 1886 labour unions went on a strike in the United States of America and demanded that workers should not be forced to work more than eight hours a day.
On 4 May during the strike the bomb blasts in Chicago's Haymarket took place. Due to which several people and police officers died and more than 100 people were injured. However, the strike did not pave any immediate effect on labourers work but it helped in establishing the eight hour work day rule in India and other countries of the world.
The real statement about the event: “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.”
In 1889 a meeting took place in Paris where it was decided to celebrate May Day on an annual basis through a proposal given by the Raymond Lavigne and said that international demonstrations is required to celebrate the anniversary of the Chicago protests.
When and Why Earth Day is celebrated?
In 1891, International's second congress officially recognized to celebrate May Day as an annual event.
In 1894, May Day Riots occurred and in the year 1904, International Socialist Conference at Amsterdam has given the following statement that all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all the countries to demonstrate energetically on First May for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat and for universal peace and declared that on 1st May it is mandatory upon the proletarian organizations of all the countries to stop work.
In India, to celebrate Labour Day was the first initiative taken by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan wherein the Comrade Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar, founder of the first trade union, arranged two meetings to celebrate the day. One meeting was held at Triplicane Beach and another at the beach opposite the Madras High Court. Singaravelar passed a resolution that the government should announce a national holiday on 1st May and marked it as a Labour Day. For the first time a red flag was used in India.
How International Labour Day is celebrated?
There is an official holiday all over the world on International Labour Day or May Day to celebrate the accomplishment of workers. Lots of programmes and celebrations are organised on this day. Various banners and flags were also decorated by the labourers of different colours. To increase the social awareness among people various news and messages are distributed by the TV and radio channels by saying Happy Labour Day. Even the theme of Labour Day becomes the western culture shows, TV shows, etc.
Therefore, International Labour Day is celebrated every year across the world on 1st May to spread awareness about the rights and opportunities of every Labour which they should get for their welfare and betterment.
World Intellectual Property Day 2018
