International Labor Day was established due to the workers’ struggle to seek and secure their rights, freedoms, and working and living conditions. The movement began in 1884, when the Federation of Organized Market and Worker’s Union (predecessor of the American Federation of Labor) drafted a resolution that “beginning on May 1, 1886, the working hours for all workers should be 8 hours.” On May 1, 1886, over 200,000 workers, gathered in Chicago’s central square, went on strike to demand their rights. The death of 7 police officers during the protests, which had been going on for several days, was the cause of the response of the Chicago Police to the workers’ movement. As a result of a bomb thrown by the police forces, 8 foremost leaders of the workers’ federation were killed, thus turning May into the month of commemoration of workers’ efforts to win their rights. Three years after the Chicago event, in 1889, the Second International Socialist, which took place in Paris (France), established the celebration of May 1 as the day of union, struggle, and solidarity of all the world’s workers. Today, May 1, is celebrated worldwide as International Workers’ Solidarity Day. In the Republic of Albania, it is included in the list of official holidays. (In the photo: Illustrative photos from the May 1st celebrations in Albania.)
Text: Albanian Telegraphic Agency
Photo: © https://thealbanianprofile.com/
Graphic processing: AHCF
