Labor Day is a day to celebrate the international workers who strive for their legitimate rights and interests, especially the Chicago workers who made an indelible impact in 1870’s. About 80 countries around the world give workers a day off on May 1st. Wait, on May 1st? Isn’t Labor Day celebrated on the first Monday of September? This is why The Maroon wants to unravel the mystery and take a deeper look into different days for celebrating Labor Day in the world.

On May 1, 1886, there were about 35,000 demonstrators involved in mass strikes and demonstrations in Chicago. These workers were marching for the 8 hour work day. The demonstrators asked the government to change the labor conditions. On May 3, 1886, the Chicago government dispatched police officers to repress the workers and this turned bloody quite quickly. Many cops and citizens were shot and killed and these events led to an expanded set of marches and increased hostility that extended all over the world.

This date of May 1st inspired international workers, especially in Europe. The movement had begun in the United States and lept across the Oceans. The international Labor Day is a result of an American act. So why does the U.S. government set its Labor Day on the first Monday of September? This is to avoid ties to Russian socialist and Marxist revolutions that share the same date.

Because of events in Chicago and the fight for rights that happened, Labor Day became an important day to all international workers. Regarding Chicago workers, many gave their lives for their ‘8’ hours work day. While Labor Day may have different dates across the world, all recognize important events that happened in this city.

– Cuishan Ma