encephalizing mayday: return to the 8 hour work day!
A group of us walked through Chicago on April 30 to visit and commemorate the failed/interupted meeting of anarchist labor organizers at Haymarket Square. We walked without directions or much knowledge of the city, relying on other Chicago pedestrians to give us directions to our goal.
Most of the people we talked to were unaware of the Haymarket riot. We did get a cool guide to commemorating anarchist events published by Chicago Info shop–courtesy of the luxury W hotel! Does the W possibly stand for …. Work?
for images, click pic above; also , another set of images hereÂ
Here is some stuff to refresh your memories about Mayday. 1886 is the year that marks Mayday as a workers holiday.
In 1884, federation of unions passed a resolution that May 1 1886 would be the cut off for 8 hour day, with anticipated walk offs etc.
The 8 hour day was a popular cause for union rank and file, but not the the leadership– and many actions that happened on May first, 1886 were held in defiance of not only managment but also the union leaders.
On this day, many workplaces went on strike at the May 1 — 8 hour day cut off== others were planning walk-offs at the 8 hour point of their day. Still others won their cause without striking.
the ILWU history website makes clear the Chicago strike (and melee) was one among many other strikes and struggles, some of which succeed.
Most of the other informational websites give the Chicago event more centrality– their main organizing group there was called International Working People’s Association– doesnt that roll sweetly off the tongue. they were anarchists, not sure in what way.
A meeting at Haymarket square was called for May 4 because on May 3 1886- four people were killed and many others wounded when police fired into a crowd of strikers at the McCormick Reaper Works Factory. A discussion of THIS tragedy is NOT on the plaque at Desplaines and Randolf in Chicago:::::
One of the informative internet sites I am looking at implies the machine gun used in the McCormick Reaper Works Factory shootings was purchased by the Chicago Commercial club for the Illinois National guard to use against the strikers.
The International Working People’s Association held their meeting May 4 without event and they were disbanding when the Chicago Police Dept arrived. The part most of us have heard is that a bomb was lobbed at the cops-> no one knows who did it.. and the melee which follows. Certainly the Chicago event (martyrdom– there’s another one) failed in establishing 8 hour day in chicago for awhile longer.
Today we are in solidarity with you in our struggle to return to the 8 hour work day! (if not less!)
Sarah Lewison
Filed under: Walking and Not Walking
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