May 1st, International Workers' Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in every country except the United States, Canada, and South Africa. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the United States, with 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 resolution called for a general strike to achieve the goal, since legislative methods had already failed. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day.

The heart of the movement was in Chicago, organized primarily by the anarchist International Working People's Association. Businesses and the state were terrified by the increasingly revolutionary character of the movement and prepared accordingly. The police and militia were increased in size and received new and powerful weapons financed by local business leaders. Chicago's Commercial Club purchased a $2000 machine gun for the Illinois National Guard to be used against strikers. Nevertheless, by May 1st, the movement had already won gains for many Chicago clothing cutters, shoemakers, and packing-house workers. But on May 3, 1886, police fired into a crowd of strikers at the McCormick Reaper Works Factory, killing four and wounding many. Anarchists called for a mass meeting the next day in Haymarket Square to protest the brutality.


...The next time you bash a communist, socialist or anarchist..try to remember that it was thanks to the efforts of those groups, then and now, that you as a worker,have the rights and benefits that you take for granted today...

that is sooo right

That's true, though I don't bash communists.

Did you really just post pro communist rhetoric

***bump***

Yup he sure did. Why do you think I call the Deomcrats "liberal socialists" That has always been their agenda and it always will be

Yep I grew up in germany ..and it is a holiday there..
I did not go to work ..but it was not because of it being a Holiday..everywhere else but in US....but because I am feeling sick like a dog..

Symbel:

I think that may be one reason the US has "Labor Day." Am I correct? Or not?

Lindyy

P.S.

Symbelmyne:

Have a great day off!! You have worked hard all of your life and you deserve this day!

Lindyy

The thing about our Labor Day the always bugged me is the huge sales at stores. If you work in retail,or almost any service industry, Labor Day is a very busy day & one you will rarely have off. Unforutunately it is also very busy for cops,firemen & other emergency workers. So lets try to remember these people & be courteous & safe next Labor Day.

didn't you get the memo? We are supposed to look down upon all those who work in the service industry. We know they are all worth less than the total sum of the rest of the population.

Thats so true too, i worked in Mcds for 4 years and never felt respected in the least.

Yeah those of us who have been there know this all too well.

Why would this make me not bash commies?
It was an American movement, it worked and we stopped it. Now the rest of the world is copying it. Whats new? Americans are constantly being copied....
We arent commies.........
Never were.....

The closest thing to commies here are the Bushies!!

well I will tell you this, the least I tip in any setting, no matter what I order is $20.00. When I bring a large group of my guys to a place to eat I tip 50% of the bill which is ALWAYS $500.00 or greater. I am so glad you guys are there when I am hungry. My hats are off to all the service workers out there

I cannot say I completely disagree with you, but the people who want his blood are almost as bad as those who suck his balls

Fanta:

Now, don't you start!

Lindyy