MAY DAY

May 1st,the International Workers Day,commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world,and is recognised in most countries.
All the privileges workers enjoy today-a minimum wage,safety laws and eight- hour workday-came about due to the sacrifice of the workers in1886.
From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution,workers in mills and factories worked very long shifts,lasting up to fourteen or even more hours a day.It was quite common to work in unsafe conditions.Death and injury were common at many workplaces.
In the 1880s,a new movement calling for an eight-hour workday inspired both Labour Unions and unorganised workers.On the 1st,1886,half of the workers at the McComick Harvester Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight-hour workday.Two days later,about 6000 workers joined a workers rally addressed by the labour leaders.
They urged the workers to stand together,to go on with their struggle and not to give in to their bosses.On May 3,1886,suddenly about 200 policemen fired into the crowd of strikers at the McComic Harvest Machine Company,Chicago,killing at least one striker,seriously wounding five or six others and injuring an undetermined number.
The events of May Day 1886 is a reminder that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to get better working conditions,better pay and better lives.
It is a memorable day in the world history.