May 1st: Day of the Worker
by Carol Morgan
Since the 1880’s, May 1st is celebrated as International Workers Day, a worldwide event representing the solidarity of working class men and women. It was the 1886 Haymarket Square Riots in Chicago that inspired this day. Workers in the 19th century were exploited, working fourteen hour days, seven days a week in unsafe and unhealthy conditions, by the capital class who profited enormously from the railroad, steel, mining and chemical boom of that era.
The struggle for better working conditions and fair practices went on for fifty-two years. It wasn’t until June 25, 1938 that American workers were guaranteed an eight hour day and certain labor assurances. These demands could have been met without government intervention if the capitalist class valued their workers over huge profits.
It was the 16th century Scottish Economist, Adam Smith, who wrote in The Wealth of Nations “The wages of labor and the working conditions of labor will be as low as society’s sense of decency will tolerate.” It’s up to society, through government agencies, organized labor, boycotts, moral persuasion, or a combination of all of the above, who will determine working conditions and compensation.
Even though it’s the 21st century, we’re seeing many of the past practices of the capitalist class resurface; like old wine in new skins. Part of it is the “flat world” that Thomas Friedman talked about. Globalized trade, outsourcing, supply-chaining, and political forces have altered the world, making all nations economically interdependent.
More at http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2013-04-30/may-1st-day-worker .
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
Carol Morgan is a career counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India.
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