Happy Labor Day

In the late nineteenth century, the working class was in constant struggle to gain the 8-hour work day. Working conditions were severe and it was quite common to work 10 to 16 hour days in unsafe conditions. Injuries and even death were commonplace at many work places and was the inspiration such books as Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and Jack London's The Iron Heel.

As early as the 1860's, working people agitated to shorten the workday without a cut in pay, but it wasn't until the late 1880's that organized labor was able to garner enough strength to declare the 8-hour workday. This proclamation was without consent of employers, yet demanded by many of the working class. A revolution was brewing. An estimated quarter million workers in the Chicago area became directly involved in the crusade to implement the eight hour work day. As more of the workforce mobilized against the employers, these radicals conceded to fight for an 8-hour work day, realizing that the tide of opinion and determination of most wage-workers was set in this direction.

Today we see tens of thousands of people embracing the ideals of those original activists. Back then, it was known as the "Haymarket Martyrs" and caused the establishment of May Day as an International Workers' Day. Ironically, May Day is an official holiday in 66 countries and unofficially celebrated in many more, but rarely is it recognized as such here, where it began.

Over one hundred years have passed since that first May Day. In the earlier part of the 20th century, the US government tried to curb the celebration and further wipe it from the public's memory by establishing "Law and Order Day" on May 1. Today, however, Labor Day has a somewhat different connotation and is no longer celebrated as a "revolt for working people", and more of a signalling of the official end of summer and the beginning of a new school year. Whichever way you choose to celebrate this Labor Day, enjoy the day.