The Labor Day will highlight the commitment of the trade union movement and the achievements in the economic and social workers. E 'approved in many countries around the world (but not all). More precisely, it is meant to recall the workers' battles aimed at capturing a very specific right: the daily working time shall be eight hours.
"Eight hours work, eight recreation, eight sleeping" was the slogan, coined in Australia in 1855, and shared by most of the organized labor movement of the early twentieth century. It opened the way for general claims and the search for one day, May 1, in fact, in which all workers could meet to practice a form of struggle and to assert their autonomy and independence.
These battles led to the promulgation of a law, passed Illinois in 1866, which introduced the eight-hour working day, but with limitations that prevent the widespread and effective application. The entry into force of the law had been set for May 1, 1867 and that day was a great event held in Chicago. Ten thousand workers formed the largest parade ever seen in the streets of American cities.
In October 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions indicated in the May 1, 1886 deadline, after which American workers would refuse to work more than eight hours a day.
The origin of the festival dates back to an event organized in the United States by the Knights of Labour (Knights of Labor, association founded in 1869) in New York September 5, 1882. Two years later, in 1884, a similar event in the Knights of Labor passed a resolution so that the event had an annual basis. Other trade unions affiliated to 'International Labor - close to the anarchist and socialist movements - as suggested date of May 1 holiday.
But dropping the final choice on this date were the serious incidents that occurred in early May 1886 in Chicago (USA) and known as the Haymarket riot. These facts had their climax on May 4 when police fired on protesters causing numerous casualties.
In Europe, the May Day holiday was formalized by the delegates of the Second Socialist International meeting in Paris in 1889 and ratified in Italy two years later.
On 20 July 1889 the founding congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris, decided that "a large demonstration was organized by a certain date, so that all countries simultaneously and in the city suits, workers have asked the public statutory authority to reduce the workday to eight hours. "
The choice fell on May 1 next year, just for a token that he had taken that day.
In Italy as in other countries the huge success of May 1st, conceived as a unique and extraordinary event, led organizations Socialist workers and to renew the event for 1891.
In the capital, the event had been called crazy in Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, in the vicinity of St. John. The tension was high, there were riots that caused several deaths and hundreds of arrests and injuries among the demonstrators.
In the rest of Italy and the world replication of May 1 had a quieter performance. The spirit of that day was rooted in the consciousness of workers.
In August 1891 the Second Congress of the meeting in Brussels, took the decision to make permanent the recurrence. From now on May 1 would be the "party of the workers of all countries in which the workers had expressed a common their demands and their solidarity. "
In Italy the holiday was suppressed during the Fascist period - who preferred to celebrate a self-governing Labour Italian April 21 to coincide with the Christmas in Rome - but was restored soon after the end of the conflict World 1945.Nel in 1947, the anniversary was overshadowed at Portella della Ginestra (PA) when the gang of Salvatore Giuliano fired on a procession of about two thousand workers in celebration, killing eleven and wounding fifty.
The profound social changes, the changing habits, the gradual homogenization of habits have profoundly changed the meaning of an event which had always praised the distinction of working class. The way to celebrate May 1 is then changed over the years ... what do you think is the meaning of this feast day? Can we still speak of solidarity and commonality of claims in the workplace?
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