Don't just shop!

1st of May is a public holiday, which is the only thing most Malaysians know. Many people will take this opportunity to consume in luxurious hypermarket; whereas some will take a good rest at home. This is exactly what the government want to promote on this significant day - consumerism and being apolitical. However, there are people out there who will always remind us that May Day is traditionally a day of struggle against exploitation and capitalism!

Lest we forget the origin of this particular day, here's the history:

May 1st, the International Workers' Day (or May Day) is the commemoration of the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in most countries. The United States of America and Canada are among the exceptions. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the USA, linked to the battle for the eight-hour day.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada, organized in 1881 (and changing its name in 1886 to American Federation of Labor) passed a resolution which asserted that "eight hours shall constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886, and that we recommend to labor organizations throughout this district that they so direct their laws as to conform to this resolution". The following year the Federation repeated the declaration that an eight-hour system was to go into effect on May 1, 1886. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly.

On May 1st, 1886, more than 350,000 workers of the United States went on a general strike after most employers refused to accept the 8-hour working time resolution. Chicago was the main center of the agitation for a shorter day - 90,ooo workers went on strike. After the strike, 35,000 meat packers in Chicago were finally given 8 hours working time.

However, the victory did not last long. Unscrupulous capitalists bought over the policemen and judges. Between year 1886 to 1890, many union leaders were persecuted, some of them were even killed. On 1 May 1890, workers in United States gained solid support from the workers around the world. Besides US itself, workers in many Europe countries (especially England, Netherland, Italy, France, Spain and Russia) and several countries in Latin America held huge rallies. In the same year, the capitalists were forced to succumb to the workers, by allowing workers to have 8-hour working time per day and 1 rest day in a week.

In 1919, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had accepted 8-hour working time per day as universal standard, and announced 1st of May as the International Workers' Day.


Asia0900: 2006 May Day Special
http://www.asia247.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=52