International Workers’ Day ― Date, History, and Details
International Workers’ Day may be something you want to learn more about, and we want to help with that.
Let's dive deeper into learning more about the history of International Workers’ Day and why people celebrate or observe it.
History of International Workers’ Day and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
May 1st is a day set aside to celebrate workers and the labor movement. It is also known as International Workers’ Day and May Day.
The holiday has its roots in the United States, where it was born out of the fight for better working conditions and pay. In the late 1800s, the average American worker labored 12 hours a day, seven days a week just to make enough to survive.
Unsafe working conditions were common, and worker protests were often met with violence from police and company goons. On May 1st, 1886, workers across the country went on strike to demand an eight-hour workday.
The movement quickly spread to other countries, and by 1889 the International Workingmen’s Association had called for international demonstrations on May 1st.
In many countries, May Day is now a public holiday. It is a time to come together and celebrate the achievements of workers and the labor movement. It is also a time to recommit to the fight for workers’ rights and social justice.