Labor Day May

International Workers' Day: A Historical Overview

Origins and Designation

WEB International Workers Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the labour movement and socialist and communist organizations.

1889: International Designation

WEB In 1889, an international group of socialist organizers and trade unions designated May 1 as May Day. This decision was made as a way to commemorate the Haymarket affair, a labor protest that took place in Chicago, Illinois, in 1886, and resulted in the deaths of several workers.

1894: US Labor Day

WEB In 1894, US President Grover Cleveland declared that Americans would celebrate labor on the first Monday in September. This day became known as Labor Day in the United States.

May Day and Loyalty Day

WEB May Day is celebrated by workers across the globe as International Labor Day. However, in the United States, the day is also known as Loyalty Day. This designation was signed into law by President Eisenhower in 1958 in an attempt to avoid any hint of solidarity with the workers of the world on May Day.

Commemoration of Workers' Struggles

WEB May Day is a day that commemorates the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. It is observed on May 1 in many countries where it is the occasion for parades, demonstrations, and speeches by union leaders and politicians.