Haymarket Martyrs--Origins of International Workers Day Pt 2

Part 2. PBS looks at one of the incidents that gave rise to International Workers Day--May 1 or Mayday.

The video only deals with the Haymarket Square confrontation with police and the aftermath where eight labor leaders were charged with murder. Four were hanged, one committed suicide and three had their sentences commuted.

Labor organizers had called a national strike for an eight-hour work day on May 1, 1886. In Chicago, workers held a parade and rally with over 80,000 participants.

On May 3, 1886, striking employees of the McCormick Reaper Works clashed with replacement workers. Police retaliated against the striking employees, killing two.

On May 4th, 1886, a rally of anarchists and labor activists in Chicago's Haymarket Square in support of the McCormick strikers turned deadly. An unknown assailant tossed a bomb into a throng of riot police who were advancing on the rally, killing one instantly. In the chaos that erupted, seven policemen were killed, sixty injured, and civilian casualties were likely as high.

The eight men were arrested and charged with murder at Haymarket. Though they all opposed Chicago's elite businessmen, whom they believed stood for "starvation of the masses, privileges and luxury for the few," the eight held very different ideas about what action to take. Some advocated change through violence, while others believed progress could come via social engineering. Despite their different beliefs, the trial, convictions and sentencing that followed would unite these "Haymarket Eight" in history.

At a convention of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1888 the union decided to campaign for the eight-hour day once again. May 1, 1890 was agreed upon as the date on which workers would strike for an eight-hour work day and to commemorate the earlier fight for an eight hour day.

In 1889 AFL president Samuel Gompers wrote to the first congress of the Second International, which was meeting in Paris. He informed the world's socialists of the AFL's plans and proposed an international fight for a universal eight-hour work day.
In response to Gompers's letter the Second International adopted a resolution calling for "a great international demonstration" on a single date so workers everywhere could demand the eight-hour work day.

In light of the Americans' plan, the International adopted May 1, 1890 as the date for this demonstration. It has been celebrated around the world as Mayday--International Workers Day-- ever since.

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• ATU
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• history
• May
• Day
• International
• Workers
• Haymarket
• martyrs
• strike
• eight
• hour
• day
• grassroots
• outreach

[skcodyerrus]

Without the Trade union movement and a Labour government (all beit a socialist one) Britain would never of had a National Health Service. The US is now the richest and most powerful nation on earth, it certainly is not a third world country! Just a thought, but how many hard working and tax paying Americans rely on charity for their health care? Perhaps these are the people that the third world question should be aimed at!

[thesiouxgoddess]

Does the 8 hour day still even exist here America?? And I ask this question as a TAX PAYING American myself? Is the United States at the level of a "third world" country yet? Just a question and thought.

[plainlake]

Funny how this is more know in other countries than the US, This was an inspiration for labour rights. But it seems to me that this is the US version of tiananmen Square. Hushed down..

[trilobright]

I can't believe so many Americans today seem to think that they make $60,000 a year instead of $2,000, and work eight hours a day instead of 16, because their boss is just such a swell guy. NEWSFLASH, you have any rights at all because brave men and women like this fought and died for you, not in trenches on foreign battlefields, but places like Haymarket. You're rapidly losing those rights because you've forgotten our history!

[kingOFtheFISHpeople]

@supermariobubba

this is why I hate conservatives

1) they lack  an understanding of the social contract

2) they think that a bundle of cells has more rights than a human being

3) they are dumbasses

enough said

[Direness]

@supermariobubba I'm sorry, those are simpleton ideas about liberalism. Go read a book or two, (not published by a Fox News pundit), educate yourself, and then come back and give a valid argument.

[supermariobubba]

This is why i hate liberals

1: they think we should work for money and give our money to them

2: they think it should be legal to murder unborn babies

3: they are dumbasses

nuf said

[plaidchuck]

God bless the working man, may one day he remove the shackles off his body that bind him to this cruel system

[beantownie1]

great post. We watch it at my union hall.

Thanks on behalf of local 7 boston

[monoceros1222]

Thanks to the Haymarket protesters - true Americans - a great step was taken on the road to workers' rights the World over!!