Post by Culture, The Arts, Entertainment (@culturepower)

International Workers' Day is a celebration of working people and a day when people all over the world campaign for decent work and fair pay. Thanks to action taken by workers over many years, millions of people have won fundamental rights and protections. Minimum wages have been established, there are limits on working hours, and people have the right to paid holidays and sick pay. None of this should be taken for granted, it was all fought for and continues to be.

In May 1886, 400,000 workers in many parts of the USA went on strike, demanding an eight-hour working day. The strike started peacefully, but on the third day of protests in Chicago the police shot at unarmed workers, killing several of them. The next day there were more protests and someone threw a bomb. Seven police officers and four workers were killed by the bomb or police shooting just after the bomb. The person who threw the bomb was never identified, but eight workers were arrested. Seven of them were sentenced to death, and one of them was sent to prison for 15 years.

This event, known as The Haymarket Affair, was very important in bringing working people together in the USA. Many people didn't believe the men were guilty, and the trial was criticised for being unfair. The Haymarket Affair became an international symbol of the struggle for workers' rights, and May 1 was chosen to be International Workers' Day in their honor.

The eight-hour working day became law for public workers in 1892 in the USA. Since then, workers' movements worldwide have continued to fight for and win this right among others.

Happy International Workers Day, may we enjoy the fruits of our labor and leave a brighter future for the next generations. Solidarity forever.

#InternationalWorkersDay

https://youtu.be/ZlZTHXLh-LE?si=GR5CsRNwKB4QUWF8

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