1ST MAY: CELEBRATING THE WORKERS DAY WITH MY COLLEAGUES
Excerpts: pictures marking the day at Umuahia Towmnship Stadium
Dear steemians, If there is someone or you have someone around you who works either in public or the organized private sector, you would have noticed that today 1st May 2025, is a day workers in our country and other parts of the world celebrate and are being celebrated. He or she may be observing the day at home or joined their colleagues to participate in the events they perform to mark the day. The day could also be reffered to as the *international workers day, Labour day, or May day.
Some countries like Nigeria, workers converge every 1st May in their numbers in designated places. They use the day to make demands their needs and a better working environment.
Excerpts: pictures marking the day at Umuahia Towmnship Stadium
For instance today, workers converged in the country converged in their various state capital wearing their various uniforms. May day is celebrated in different countries in different ways.
Recall that the American federation of Labour selected the date to observe the general strike in the United States Of America which started in 1st May 1886. From this point it became an annual event that many coumtries of the world observe to honour their working class.
Later, the international workers congress that was held in paris in 1889 further affirmed and established the second international day for labor. The gathering gave a strong support for international demonstration for workforce in making a demand for eight hour per day work.
Excerpts: pictures marking the day at Umuahia Towmnship Stadium
For us, we converged at the Umuahia Township Stadium to commemotate the day. The workers in the state assembled in their different quarters to mark the day and make their demands known to their employers. Some of the demands made are:
To give workers a better working condition
Give 65 years retirement age or 40 years of service for all civil servants
Reduce petroleum pump price to ease transportation
Release of workers gratuities
A better wage for the workers to cope woth inlation
All these and more they presented to their employers.
Activities lined up for the day includes:
Match past from different labor unions in the state
Cultural dance
Governor's speech
Presentation/Address by the labor unions
Excerpts: pictures marking the day at Umuahia Towmnship Stadium
Workers made these demands amid growing concerns of poor working environment, high cost of living, poor remunerations, and lack of inclusive labour reforms. The resultant effect of these factors are contributing negatively to the well-being of the economy in the follwing ways:
Ineficiency
Unproductive
Lack of motivation or job morale
Redundancy
Unaccountability
To make workers productive and efficient, employers of labor must do the following:
Make a better remunerations or better living wage for workers
On-the job training for the workers
Improved working environment
Payment of pensions and gratuities for the retired workforce
Reduction in cost of goods and services
Excerpts: Pictures marking the day at Umuahia Towmnship Stadium
It is sad to note that For some years now, the workers has been marking their day in a low key owing to lack of support from their employers. They also put several years to serve the nation but, would have nothing substantial gained from the employers.
Join me to celebrate the resilient workforce around the world toaday.