A day set aside for honoring and celebrating the struggles and achievements of workers and their unions have made, and continue to make countries of the world great, it is today. While, we tend to think about Labour Day as a holiday, the idea of a day for honoring working people has held international appeal.
The first American Labor Day was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. Less than seven years later, Labor Day went global. In 1889, an international federation of socialists and trade unions in Europe decided to create a similar holiday: International Workers’ Day (or Labour Day) to be celebrated on May 1 of each year, a tradition that continues to this day in more than 60 countries.
Many in the US think about International Workers’ Day as a European celebration. But there is a uniquely American connection that we should all remember on Labor Day. The international federation selected that date to commemorate a general strike in Chicago called on May 1, 1886, with tens of thousands of American workers fighting for a right we’ve come to enjoy as standard; the eight-hour workday. The strike, however, met with tragedy just a few days later. On May 4, a riot broke out in Chicago when police attempted to clear Haymarket Square of strikers, leaving seven police officers and four civilians dead, with dozens of others wounded. Eight men were convicted of the killings and sentenced to death following a shamefully unjust trial. The next Illinois governor pardoned the three strikers, who had not yet been executed, six years after their conviction.
While the Haymarket Affair is a painful reminder of the oppressive working conditions that marked the late 19th and early 20th century workplace, it is also the symbol of the struggle of workers that led to the establishment of an important day of remembrance and a continued call to action. International Workers’ Day, Labour Day and Labor Day give voice to working people who too often work without one. It is a day that should remind us of the work achieved by unions and others to secure a better life for all, while at the same time reminding us of the work that remains to be done. Even acknowledging our advances since 1882, workers in the world still lag far behind their western counterparts in healthcare coverage, paid leave and retirement protection.
In much of the world, Labour Day also gets a bit of a boost by sharing the date with other celebrations. In much of Europe, May 1st is also May Day, a traditional festival of springtime and renewal involving singing, dancing, fairs, and plenty of other entertainment that naturally brings people together in public venues, making it easy for wide dissemination of the public speeches and remembrances more substantively associated with Labour Day. Japan actually observes its Labor Day on the same day as Thanksgiving. Every November 23rd, the people of Japan celebrate Labor Thanksgiving Day, an occasion to respect labor, to celebrate production, and for citizens to give each other thanks for their hard work. It could arguably be considered a triple holiday: Like Europe, the date coincides with an ancient festival, though instead of spring and renewal.
The most important lesson to take from the prevalence and prominence of Labor Day is that celebrating working people is a nearly universal observance that crosses all borders and enriches the human experience. While people celebrate at different times and with breathtaking diversity, the day nonetheless stands as a unifying occasion we can all recognize and cherish. Take a moment to think about the history surrounding Labor Day, listen about Labor Day, or just generally consider the role that rank-and-file workers play in keeping world the productive and magnificent marvel it truly is.
The writer is having vast experience in Banking and Finance sector for over one and half decade, where during his period of work he has experienced different economic and development initiatives taken for the wellbeing of the public masses through the banking channel.
He has worked for the Microfinance banks which are offering community based services among the under developed segment of the society.
The major work done in Financial Inclusion where several hundreds of people were brought to Banking channel to improve their businesses.
The under served segment of society like woman were given the chances to change their lives through credit facilities to grow their home based businesses which is also an imitative of Women Empowerment.
The Writer has also worked against different social issues and highlighting them for positive change in the society through public awareness and their active involvement to reach to the solution.
This journey of empowering people is on going and is never lasting till the time last person remains underserved.
