May 1 is observed as “May Day”, also referred to as “International Workers’ Day” and “Labour Day” in different countries across the world. The day commemorates the contributions of workers, and the labour movement. HAYMARKET AFFAIR Although observed as an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival initially, May 1 became associated with the Labour Movement in the late 19th century. The decision was taken in memory of Chicago’s Haymarket Affair, which took place on May 4, 1886, when a violent clash broke out between the police and labour protesters. The incident happened after a bomb went off at Haymarket Square in Chicago, where the police had arrived to break a peaceful rally. Many protesters, who were demonstrating against workers’ rights violations, long work hours, poor working conditions, low wages and child labour, were arrested and served terms of life imprisonment, death sentences, etc., and those who died were hailed as “Haymarket Martyrs”. LABOUR DAY ACROSS THE WORLD The US formally recognised Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894, and it continues to be celebrated every year on the first Monday of September. Soon, Canada also followed suit. However, it took another 22 years and countless protests for America to recognise eight-hour work days. MAY 1 Although the US and Canada observed the first Monday of September as Labor Day, others decided to mark the occasion on a different date.
  • In 1889, the Second International, an organisation of socialist and labour parties, announced that May 1 would be marked as International Workers’ Day from then on.
  • Five years later, the International Socialist Congress in Amsterdam called on “all Social Democratic Party organisations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the 1st May for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace,” and made it “mandatory upon the proletarian organisations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers.”
LABOUR DAY IN INDIA In India, May Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1923, after the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan was initiated and Comrade Singaravelar (Singaravelu Chettiar) helmed the celebrations. In two meetings — one at Triplicane Beach and the second at the beach opposite Madras High Court — the Comrade, known for being one of the leaders of the Self Respect movement in the Madras Presidency and for his fight for the rights of backward classes, passed a resolution stating the government should allow everybody a national holiday on Labour Day.