1 MAY

INTE

RNATIO

NAL WORKERS’

DAY

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAYIt is a celebration of laborers and the working classes.

It is promoted by the international labor movement.

It occurs every year on May Day, 1 May, an ancient European spring holiday. 

The date was chosen by the Second International -an organization of socialist and labour parties formed

in Paris on July 14, 1889- to commemorate the Haymarket affair

(Chicago, 4 May 1886).

It is a national public holiday in many countries.

WHY

DO WE C

ELEBRAT

E

THE W

ORKERS’ DAY

?

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY

As a day of struggle and labor claim has been linked to the conquest of the working day of eight hours since its origins.

During the second phase of the Industrial Revolution the factory workers, including women and children, endured days 12, 14 and up to 18 hours.

The need to shorten working hours became clear in the last third of the nineteenth century.

IV Congress of the American Federation of Labor (Chicago, November 1884): It was proposed that employers would be forced to respect the 8-hour day since 1 May 1886 and, if not, would go on strike.

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY

In 1886, the President of the United States, Andrew Johnson, made public the Ingersoll Act, establishing eight-hour workday.

As this law was not fulfilled, labor unions were mobilized and workers paralyzed the country with more than five thousand strikes.

The most famous episode of this struggle was the unfortunate incident of May 1886 in Haymarket Square in Chicago

During a demonstration against the brutal repression of a recent strike a bomb killed several policemen.

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY

Although they could never find out who was responsible for this attack, the authorities blamed the crime on workers and more than 30 people were arrested.

Seven of them were accused, summarily tried and sentenced to death, but ultimately only five anarchist leaders were executed.

The May 1 Labor Day was appointed by agreement of the Socialist Workers Congress (1889) of the Second International in memory of these five people, known as "Martyrs of Chicago".

WORKER

S' DAY

IN

SPAIN

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN

The Congress took the decision to hold the May 1 as a major international event for all countries workers for claiming the reduction of the workday to eight hours.

Pablo Iglesias -founder and leader of the Socialist Party and UGT labor union- attended this Congress held in Paris.

Spanish Socialists took the decision that thereafter the day should be a full affirmation of the workers' struggle.

Celebrations should be organized, always peaceful mood.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN

The Spanish Socialists feared that there would be a few participation on the appointed day, so they opted to call the demonstration for Sunday May 4th.

The newspapers published apocalyptic articles against the working mobilization.

The civil governor of Madrid recalled the penalties established by law and the Penal Code and the mayor mobilized his guards and police at strategic locations in the capital.

Despite all this, the demonstration was a success.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN

We commemorate the 125th anniversary of the first celebration of May 1 in Spain.

We have to emphasize the existence of a clear thread of continuity between that May 1, 1890 and today.

It retains its double meaning:

1) Represents a festive day, affirming the work.

2) Continues to be a day of struggle for the rights of workers.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION1890-1923During the first decades of celebration

of May 1, the Bourbon monarchy remained generally tolerant attitude towards all activities that workers programmed for that day.

1923-1929This tolerance was cut during the

dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera that banned demonstrations.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION1931-1939In 1931, the provisional government of

the Second Republic declared non-working day and gave the day the recognition it deserves.

Those years were mass demonstrations throughout Spain. More than 300 000 people marched in Madrid.

But again the Civil War marked its existence for many years.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION

1939-1975The victory of Franco's side -April 1, 1939-

resulted in the total defeat of the labor movement.

Their organizations were banned; its leaders and militants executed, imprisoned or exiled; collective rights to strike, assembly and other deleted.

Franco ratified the suspension of May 1 as Labour Day, who moved to July 18 as the Feast of Exaltation of the National Labor denying its protest identity.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION1975-2015May 1 celebration was again established after

the death of Franco in 1975.

The first time it was celebrated was in 1977, when the Comuuunist Party was legalized.

Since then, it has become an official holiday that has been traditionally used by trade unions and labor parties for social and labour vindications.

Commonly, pacific demonstrations and parades occur in major and minor cities.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN. Typical activities in celebrations that

various labor groups perform on May 1:

Political celebrations

a) Compliance unemployment.

b) Political meeting.

c) A public demonstration.

WORKERS' DAY IN SPAIN. Festive or playful celebrations

They are the activities undertaken sign of celebration and joy, which serve to relax and distract workers:

a) Gira campestre. Is the typical act of pleasure that was made in almost all populations in nearby places of natural beauty.

b) Other acts. They used evenings, concerts and functions perfomed theatre in the labor unions buildings to educate workers.

WORKERS' DAY AND GLOBALIZATIONThe globalization has generated social inequalities and

economic migration in recent decades.

All this has returned to May 1st full day today as workers struggle, because unfortunately are losing many of those hard-won rights of workers.