Every
May 1, the workers from around the world commemorate the big event a
demonstration of workers in the United States in 1886, which requires the
implementation of eight hours of work. These charges related to the current
environment, when the workers were forced to work for 12 to 16 hours per day.
Large demonstrations that took place since April 1886 was initially supported
by about 250 thousand workers.
Within
two weeks of protesters swell to around 350 thousand workers. City of Chicago
is the heart of the movement, followed by about 90 thousand workers. In New
York, the same demonstration was followed by about 10 thousand workers, in
Detroit followed by 11 thousand workers. Demonstrations also spread to cities
like Louisville and Baltimore demonstration unite white and black workers.
Until the date of May 1, 1886, the demonstrations spread from Maine to Texas,
and from New Jersey to Alabama, followed by half a million workers in the
country.
These developments provoke a reaction that is also great from the business and local government officials
at that time. Through Chicago's Commercial Club,
spent approximately U.S. $ 2,000 to purchase
equipment to deal with machine gun demonstrations.
Peaceful demonstration demanding the reduction
of working hours and ended
with the riot victims.
About 180 police blocked
the demonstration and ordered to disperse demonstrators.
Monumental events that became the pinnacle of world labor
union movement is organizing the International Labor Congress in 1889. Congress
is attended by hundreds of delegates from various countries and decided to eight
hours of work per day to be the main demands of the workers around the world. In
addition, Congress also welcomes the proposed delegation of workers from the
United States are calling for a general strike May 1, 1890 to demand the reduction
of working hours by making the date of May 1 as Labor Day the World.
Eight hours / day or 40 hours / week (five days) have
been determined to be by the ILO international labor standards through the ILO Convention
no. 01 in 1919 and the Convention no. 47 in 1935. Especially for the convention
no. 47 in 1935, until now, only 14 countries that signed the convention. Enactment
of the convention is an international recognition which indirectly represents the
fruit of the struggle of the workers in the entire world to get a decent job. Determination
of 8 hours per day as one of the main provisions in labor industrial relations is
a marker of the end of the forms of forced labor and slavery are hiding behind industrial
relations.
