This year, the great May Day is being observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the world with a renewed pledge to build an exploitation-free society and uphold the rights of working class people.
On this day 138 years ago, in 1886, workers in the Hay Market in Chicago, USA called for a strike demanding various demands, including eight hours of work, improved working conditions and wage increases. The aggrieved workers took to the streets that day to realize their demands.
The workers’ protest was suppressed in a very brutal manner.
And the workers had to sacrifice their lives in police firing. The whole world became vocal at that incident. Ultimately the rights of the working people were established due to the sacrifice of the workers of Chicago. At present, about 80 countries around the world observe May Day as a national holiday in honor of workers. That was the first organised workers’ rights in the world.
Before the 19th century, factory workers had to work 10-12 hours a day, sometimes more. But the pay was very l6ow for the work, which was not adequate for their livelihood. This made the workers became angry and it turned into a movement. They set May 1, 1886, as the deadline for meeting this demand. But the factory owners did not listen to the workers’ demands.
As a result, on May 4, 1886, workers again staged a protest in a place called Hay Market in Chicago. At that time, American labor activist August Spee spoke on behalf of the workers. At that time, a bomb was suddenly thrown at the police nearby, killing a police officer.
Immediately, the police, angered by this incident, opened fire on the protesting workers. About 10-12 workers were killed in police firing that day. August Spees and eight others were arrested for the murder of the police.
The following year, on November 11, 1887, the six accused, including August Spees, were hanged. One of the remaining two accused committed suicide while in prison, and the other was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
We call for a fresh commitment to building a more and equitable society, where the rights of all citizens, especially the working class, are respected and protected. This may involve strengthening labor laws, improving working conditions and ensuring fair wages to improve the lives of workers and build a better future for all.
