The long history of "MAY DAY: or Labor Day"

May 1, 2023, is commemorated as International Labor Day or known as May Day. The commemoration of Labor Day is also designated as a national holiday.

Today is commemorated worldwide to honor the struggles of workers in obtaining fair rights and decent work protections. There is a long history regarding Labor Day. Before the 19th century, the term May Day referred to the celebration of the change of seasons, to spring in the United States. May Day is also known as International Workers' Day to celebrate labor rights and the eight-hour workday in the United States.

At that time, working conditions in the United States were very poor, especially in the industrial sector. Workers were required to work 16 hours a day for very low wages. These workers also worked without adequate health and safety guarantees.

In 1886, a labor movement began to develop in the United States that advocated for workers' rights. This movement sought to fight for an eight-hour workday. On May 1, 1886, thousands of workers across the United States went on strike to fight for their rights.

At that time, there were three labor organizations organizing protests: Knights of Labor, Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, and International Workingmen's Association also known as the First International. Within a few days, demonstrations and strikes spread across the United States, including major cities like Chicago, New York, and Boston.

On May 3, 1886, a clash between police and demonstrators erupted in Chicago. This event later became known as the Haymarket Tragedy. Four demonstrators and seven police officers were killed in the clash. In the aftermath of this incident, many workers and labor rights activists were arrested and imprisoned.

The history of Labor Day continues in 1889, when an international conference was held in Paris to commemorate the struggles of workers and to advocate for workers' rights. The conference called for an international observance on May 1st as International Labor Day.

The history of May Day as Labor Day was born from an international federation, a group of socialists and labor unions established May 1 as a day to support workers, in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot in Chicago in 1886. In the 20th century, the May 1 holiday received official recognition from the Soviet Union, and it was also celebrated as International Workers' Solidarity Day, especially in several Communist countries.

However, the United States does not celebrate Labor Day on May 1, but on the first Monday of September (May 1 is Loyalty Day, an official holiday but not widely recognized in the United States). There are several opinions stating that the reason is to avoid commemorating the riots that occurred in 1886, as quoted by Office Holidays.

Since that moment, International Labor Day is commemorated worldwide as a day of struggle for workers to obtain fair and decent rights in the workplace. In addition, International Labor Day has also become a symbol of the struggle for independence, democracy, and equality around the world.

In Indonesia, International Labor Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1920, where labor unions and workers held demonstrations and strikes to fight for their rights.

The history of Labor Day in Indonesia began when the country was still under Dutch rule, and the working conditions of workers in the plantation and industrial sectors were very poor. During the Dutch colonization, workers and labor unions often experienced exploitation and oppression by Dutch employers. The inhumane working conditions, low wages, and lack of health and safety guarantees made workers and labor unions feel the need to fight for their rights.

Labor Day celebrations were briefly halted during President Suharto's administration as they were seen as synonymous with communist ideology. Protests from the labor force still occurred during the New Order, but they were not massive. The protests focused on issues such as fair wages, menstrual leave, and overtime pay.

Then during the reform era, Labor Day was once again routinely celebrated in many cities, carrying various demands ranging from welfare to the abolition of the outsourcing system. BJ Habibie, as the first president in the reform era, ratified ILO Convention No. 81 on the freedom of association for workers.

On May 1, 2013, an important historical event of Labor Day occurred in Indonesia. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared Labor Day as a national holiday. Year after year, May 1 has always been a platform for workers to demand their rights, ranging from delayed wage payments, working hours and fair wages, maternity leave rights, menstrual leave rights, to the Holiday Allowance (THR) that we can still enjoy today.

Source: CNBC Indonesia

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