International Labour Day

Held on : 1st May

International Labour Day is an annual event observed all over the world. It resulted from the labour union movement in the late 80's. It is observed to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. The origin of Labour Day can be traced back to Philadelphia in December 1869. A group of nine tailors, led by Uriah S. Stephens, who called themselves “Knights of Labor” established a Labour Organization. The Labour Organization was initially kept a secret. But it grew rapidly in 1872. It became even more bigger at the collapse of the The National Labor Union, [1866 to 1873] in 1873. This union was compose of a large group of workers and reformist, who tried unsuccessfully to pressure Congress into making labor reforms, specifically an eight-hour workday. The effort failed, and the Union itself broke apart. Most of the reformers were immigrants from Europe who pursued the same interests back in Europe.

The membership of the Knights of Labor peaked in 1886, under Terence V. Powderly, with a total of over 700,000. The Knights held the motto "An Injury To One Is The Concern Of All", the Knights of Labor attempted to further its idealistic aims- an 8-hour day, the abolition of child labor, equal pay, the elimination of private banks. The Knights were organized both as all-inclusive "general assemblies" and as "trade assemblies" consisting of workers within particular crafts. Women, black workers (after 1883), and employers were welcomed and bankers, lawyers, gamblers, and stockholders excluded. The Knights aided various strikes and boycotts, winning important actions against Union Pacific Union Pacific in 1884 and on the Wabash Railroad in 1885. However, failure in the Missouri Pacific strike in 1886 and violence by strikers, including the Haymarket Square riot, led to disputes between the craft unionists and the advocates of all-inclusive unionism. With the additional problems of an autocratic structure, mismanagement, further unsuccessful strikes, and the emergence of the American Federation of Labor in 1886 under Samuel Gompers the organization quickly shrank from its 1886 peak. By 1890 membership was only 100,000, and by 1900 it was practically non-existent.
Samuel Gompers Knights of Labor organized a parade in September 5, 1882 in New York City. Another parade was held in 1884 were the Knights passed a resolution to make these parade an annual event.

There were many other Labour Organizations, but notably the affiliates of the International Workingmen's Association also called the International or the First International. The International Workingmen's Association was established in 1864 and had their first meeting in London, England who were seen as a hotbed of socialists and anarchists, favoured a May 1st holiday. Originally the organization contained British trade unionists, anarchists, French socialists, Italian republicans and was organized by a small group around Karl Marx. Later disputes between Marx and Mikhail Bakunin, the most prominent anarchist in the International, led to a split between the Marxists and Bakuninists in which Bakunin's followers were ejected from the International. In order to maintain control of the International, in 1872 Marx relocated the organization to New York City. The organization disbanded 4 years later, at the 1876 Philadelphia conference. Latter attempts to revive the organization over the next five years failed.

With the event of Chicago's Haymarket riots in early May of 1886, president Grover Cleveland believed that a May 1st holiday could become an opportunity to Haymarket Riot commemorate the riots. But fearing it may strengthen the socialist movement, he quickly moved in 1887 to support the position of the Knights of Labor and their date for Labor Day. The date was adopted in Canada in 1894 by the government of Prime Minister John Thompson, although the concept of a Labour Day actually originated with marches in both Toronto and Ottawa in 1872. On the other hand, socialist delegates in Paris in 1889 appointed May 1st as the official International Labour Day.

On this day various labour organizations across the country carry out processions and organize competitions for children belonging to labour class. In U.S.A. some public celebrations, such as fireworks displays, picnics and barbecues, are organized, but they are usually low key events. It is also the last chance for many people to take summer trips.

* In Trinidad and Tobago, Labour Day is celebrated every June 19
* In Australia, Labour Day is October 1
* In New Zealand, Labour Day is held on the 4th Monday in October

Alternate Name - Labour Day, May Day, International Workers' Day, International Labour Day, National Labour Day

Holiday Status - It is a Holiday in majority of Countries.