Today is May Day. May Day had its origin in United States during the campaign for eight hour day when men, women and children often worked 10 or more hours a day, seven days a week.

Triumph of Labour Statue at Chennai

During the campaign, The Knights of Labor, the nascent American Federation of Labor and various groups designated May 1, 1886, for nationwide demonstrations for the eight-hour goal.

In an incident which occurred in Chicago involving clash of strikers and police, several workers were killed. In a protest meeting held in Haymarket Square, a bomb blast resulted in killing several officers. In the trial that followed, eight were found quilty and four subsequently executed. These Heymarket Martyrs became heroes of labour movements throughout the world.

The International Socialist Congress meeting in Paris in 1889 designated May 1, 1890 as an eight hour holiday to be observed by workers in all countries.

May Day Celebrations are on in Chenna today.

Wishing all workers a happy May Day, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said his government would take all measures for the welfare of the working class in the State.

In her May Day message, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa conveyed her best wishes to workers in the State and said that May Day highlighted the divinity of labour and the rights of the working class.

PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss exhorted the workers to bring light into the lives of the underprivileged and work in that direction from this May Day onwards.

TNCC president M Krishnassamy, in his May Day message, said that both the Central and State governments were committed to the welfare of the working class in the country.

Tail Piece : Incidentally Mayday is also an emergency code word used internationally, as a distress signal derived from the French m’aider, meaning “help me”, by ships , aircraft, vehicle, or person who is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.

(References :

1. An article by Rudolph J. Vecoli professor emeritus of history and former director of the Immigration History Research Center University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in www.timesargus.com
2.Newindpress webedition of May 1, 2007.
3.Wikipedia )