International Workers’ Day originated in the late 1800s to commemorate workers’ ongoing fight for an eight-hour workday, fair wages, and protections on the job; specifically, the date was chosen in 1886 to honor and memorialize the Haymarket Affair, a city-wide labor dispute in Chicago that resulted in riots, police violence against workers, and, ultimately, a shift in the power dynamics between workers and bosses in America. In 1889, labor organizations across the globe adopted May 1 as an official way to observe workers’ ongoing struggles and victories.
Celebrating Workers in Unbreakable Solidarity this May Day
