BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday

Subject: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: theleveller
Date: 02 May 11 - 06:11 AM

After Friday's obscene spectacle of inherited privilege and self-aggrandizement, it was a real pleasure to celebrate a much more altruistic and relevant occasion – the 121st anniversary of the International Workers' Holiday of 1st May.

I took the opportunity to re-read the excellent paper by the eminent historian, Eric Hobsbawm, given to celebrate the centenary of this event in 1990, at St Mary and Westfield College of the University of London. It is entitled 'Birth of a Holiday – The First of May' and can be found in his brilliant book, 'Uncommon People: Resistance, Rebellion and Jazz.

The 1st May holiday originated from a demonstration on that day in 1890 when socialist workers across the world, notably Britain, Europe and the USA, in support of a maximum 8-hour working day. It has since become, in Hobsbawm's words "….the only unquestionable dent made by a secular movement in the Christian or any other official calendar, a holiday established not in on or two countries, but in 1990 officially in 107 states. What is more, it is an occasion established not by the power of government or conquerors, but by an entirely official movement of poor men and women."

He goes on to set out how this came about and the history of the holiday, including the many attempts by anti-socialists, not least our own tyrant, Thatcher, to usurp the day.

Surely, on this weekend, this is the event that is truly worthy of celebration – not the stomach-churning extravaganza of Friday?

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 02 May 11 - 06:39 AM

Enjoy the day as those enjoyed their day on Friday.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 May 11 - 07:42 AM

In Argentina they have Día del Trabajador on May 1, and if this falls on a Saturday or Sunday they don't have Monday off in lieu. However, they do have the Thursday before Easter as a public holiday.

We celebrated the wonderful events of Friday with a stomach churning bife de chorizo yesterday!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 May 11 - 07:50 AM

Incidentally, we have not inherited any privileges but have certainly enjoyed our inheritances!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: pdq
Date: 02 May 11 - 10:24 AM

President Grant signed the bill that gave Federal workers an 8-hour work day. That was in 1869, substantially before the labor activists took May 1 away. It was always a holiday in many cultures, essentially a celebration of fertility and the arrival of Spring.

The 5-day workweek became standard in 1926 when Henry Ford closed his car-making plants on Saturday. Automation made workers so productive that the extra day off was possible.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: theleveller
Date: 02 May 11 - 11:49 AM

That's true, pdq, however the American Federation of Labor had decided to hold a demonstration in favour of the international adoption of the Legal 8-Hour Day on 1st May 1890. This is why the day was chosen for similar demonstrations across the world.

"we have not inherited any privileges but have certainly enjoyed our inheritances!!!!! "

For once I would agree with you, Bozo. I feel extremely fortunate that I have inherited, especially from my maternal grandfather, the knowledge that wealth and personal power are less important that an altruistic attitude to those who are less well-off than ourselves.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 May 11 - 12:56 PM

We need more wedding extravaganzas because they generate income for businesses and employees, thus far more valuabl to society than any workers' holiday (which is not bothered with in North America).

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Musket
Date: 02 May 11 - 01:54 PM

Enjoyed the day off Friday and enjoyed it today. Friday brought in a load of money to the exchequer so that's good for the economy and today brought a rest for many people who didn't have to work.

Win win.

Enjoy.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 May 11 - 02:47 PM

"took May 1 away"

It's still there the last time I looked. It'd be a bit strange to start the month on May the second.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 May 11 - 03:27 PM

"The 5-day workweek became standard in 1926 when Henry Ford closed his car-making plants on Saturday."

That is interesting. My father and many others were working 6 days a week in Canada in the 1960's. Was a 5 day week "standard" during the Great Depression? That little factoid seems more like a Ford PR myth than reality to me.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: ranger1
Date: 02 May 11 - 08:25 PM

We get Labor Day in the US, it's just in September instead of May.

Subject: RE: BS: 1st May - International Workers' Holiday
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 May 11 - 09:03 PM

("Working 6 days a week in Canada in the 1960's.")

"By 1960, 37 to 40 hours during a five-day week had become the "standard." ......
"By the 1960s, almost 7 out of 10 full-time employees worked standard hours..... "...between 1964 and 1979, weekly manufacturing hours fell by less than an hour. Standard hours for all industries fell slightly more over this period from 40.1 to 38.3."

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/studies-etudes/75-001/archive/e-pdf/11-eng.pdf

As I remember the 1960s, with a major oil company in Canada; overtime was paid to union workers and hourly-pay employees with the company for any time worked over 40 hours. Moreover, hourly-pay employees on overtime were given meal allowances.