International Labor Day is an important holiday that workers get paid leave; do you know why May 1 was chosen as International Labor Day?
International Workers’ Day, celebrated on May 1st every year, is not only an occasion to honor the contributions of the working class but also an opportunity to remind us of the historical struggles of the international labor movement. Although this is an important holiday that is expected because people get a day off from work and receive full pay, not everyone understands why May 1st was chosen as International Workers’ Day.
Origin of International Workers' Day
In the late 19th century, when industrialization was booming in the United States and Europe, workers were faced with harsh and difficult working conditions. They often had to work 10 to 16 hours a day in poor conditions without any health or safety measures. This spurred the movement for workers’ rights, with one of the main demands being to reduce working hours to 8 hours a day.
The turning point in the labor movement took place on May 1, 1886 in Chicago, USA. Tens of thousands of workers took to the streets to protest, demanding a reduction in working hours to 8 hours a day.
The protests in Chicago were severely suppressed but continued to grow more intense. Two days later, more than 6,000 workers held strikes, rallies, and demonstrations but were suppressed by the police; 9 workers were killed and 50 seriously injured, shocking the city.
The movement culminated on May 4, 1886, when a massive rally took place to protest police repression, resulting in more than 200 deaths and injuries, and many activists being arrested.
More than a year later, many of the movement’s leaders were executed. However, the employers eventually gave in to the workers’ demands. A report from the American Federation of Labor noted: "Never in American history has there been such a powerful and comprehensive uprising among the working class."
Three years after the Chicago "tragedy", on June 20, 1889, the First Congress of the Second Communist International, under the leadership of Frederic Engels, passed a resolution to make May 1 a day of demonstration of strength and common struggle of the proletariat around the world . Since then, May 1 has become International Labor Day, a symbol of the day of struggle of the working class, a festival of working people around the world.
The first time International Workers' Day on May 1 was celebrated internationally was in 1890. In 1920, under Lenin's approval, the Soviet Union (formerly) became the first country to allow people to take a day off on this day. Since then, International Workers' Day on May 1 has gradually been recognized and implemented by many countries.
The first International Labor Day in Vietnam was held in 1930, after the Communist Party of Vietnam was founded. On May 1, 1946, for the first time in the history of our country, International Labor Day was solemnly celebrated in Hanoi with the participation of 200,000 working people.
The meaning of International Labor Day 1/5
May 1 is an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and resilience of the workforce in the struggle for peace , democracy and social progress. This is a day for all working classes, regardless of profession or nationality, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and solidarity in building a fair society where everyone can live and work with the best rights and conditions.
It is an opportunity for the world to come together and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the dignity of work and its role in building a brighter future. The celebrations and rallies that take place on this day reflect a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for the important contributions of workers.
Despite facing new challenges in the context of modern economic and technological development, the spirit of International Workers' Day on May 1 continues to be an important driving force for the global workforce towards the goal of sustainable development and prosperous society.
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