Long article as we find ourselves upon another International Workers' Day.

[doe_witch]

"It is a subterranean fire"

May Day turns 125 years old this year. Elizabeth Schulte tells the story of the fight for the eight-hour day--and of the Haymarket Martyrs who gave their lives for it.

April 29, 2011ON MAY 1, 1886--125 years ago this month--hundreds of thousands of workers were taking the streets of cities around the U.S. to demand an

Comments

[romp]

Thanks for posting, OP. It's a heartening time in history and one I didn't hear about until I was an adult.

I *may* be going to a May Day March...

[azetburcaptain]

This day is really important. And so it is too bad that Stalinist style regimes have ensured that the day is forever associated with them and large parades to show off the greatness of the leader, rather than the greatness of the worker or protests to increase the role of the worker.

Sad, because we need similar movements now more than ever: the eight hour day is becoming obsolete, more companies expect work around the clock even if not at the office, and one is expected to be "the last to leave", so leaving at the regular hours of 4/5pm is now unacceptable. Worst of all, many of us will probably not get to retire at all. It's scary out there.

/Eastern European

[redstar826]

fun fact. Somewhere along the line, the US government decided that May 1 would be designated as Loyalty Day

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/29/presidential-proclamation-loyalty-day

[hinoema]

Oh No They Didn't!

(Hey, that's catchy...)

[notgarystu]

FUCK THAT SHIT.