May Day: The Eight Hour Movement

International Workers' Day

 While May 1st is celebrated in some cultures to signify the arrival of Spring, in many countries all around the world, May 1st is declared as a public holiday known as "International Workers' Day" or "Labour Day".

Let's share a brief history behind the International Workers' Day celebration.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trade and Labour Unions declared that beginning May 1st 1886, an Eight hour day should become a standard, legalized  labour day in the United States.

On May 1st 1886, history has it that thousands of workers went on a peaceful demonstration for the implementation of the eight hour day as many were still working as long as sixteen hours and for some, even twenty hours.

What was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration turned out to be a chaos as the police opened fire at the protestants following claims that they hurled a bomb at the police.

This led to further riot (the Haymarket Affair) which left seven policemen and one civilian dead and several injured.

It will interest you to know that even though it all started in the United States,   Labor Day in America is celebrated on the first Monday in September (this is history for another day). However, many countries have adopted May 1st as International Workers' Day.

The Eight Day Movement proposes that of the 24 hours a day that every worker has, 8 hours should be allocated to work, 8 hours to recreation and 8 hours to rest.

What do you think about this eight hour movement? Would organizations get more out of employees if this is implemented?

Happy International Workers' Day !!!

- Love Truly, Molz

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