Thread: May 1st. MayDay
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Old 05-01-2005, 07:19 AM   #1
superbaton
The Cellar team
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ba, argentina
Posts: 196
May 1st. MayDay

May 1st is a day of special significance for the labour movement. Its a day of worldwide solidarity. A time to remember past struggles and demonstrate our hope for a better future. A day to remember that an injury to one is an injury to all. But why Mayday? What is its history?

Over a century ago the American Federation of Labour adopted a historic resolution which asserted that "eight hours shall constitute a legal days labour from and after May 1st, 1886".

All across America in the months prior to this resolution, workers in their thousands were starting to struggle for a shorter week. Skilled and unskilled, men and women, black and white, immigrant and native were all fighting together.

Chicago was the main centre of agitation. Over 300 000 workers came out on May 1st. It was here that Mayday was born.

happy workers day.
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