The 1st of May is a remarkable day for the international workers with reference to the Industrial Revolution, which took place in Chicago in 1886 for acceptance of their demand for an eight-hour work day.
This Industrial Revolution is recognised and celebrated as "May Day" in every part of the world, except the United States of America where the labour movement started from 1880. However, this day is celebrated in America to a certain extent on the first Monday of September.
The reason of emergence of this revolution was that the factory owners used to give the worst inhuman and humiliating treatment to their workers in those days. They were forced to work from ten to sixteen hours in hazardous conditions without any weekly holiday. Besides, child labour, exploitation and accidents were common at that time. In a nutshell, they were considered slaves of their employers.
The injustice and coercive attitudes of the factory owners compelled their workers to raise the slogan to grant them humane treatment with the facility of an eight-hour work day. The Federation of Organised Trades and Labour Unions adopted a resolution in 1884 wherein they had asked the State to give legal shape to their demand for the safety of genuine interests of industrial workers from and after May 1, 1886. Unfortunately, their demand was not fulfilled by the State.
Consequently, a general strike was observed in many cities of America for acceptance of their demand. With active rank and file support, the movement grew rapidly in spite of the fact there were indifference and hostility of many union leaders. By April 1886, about 250,000 workers were included in this movement.
Chicago was the main centre of the labour movement where it was primarily organised by the International Working People's Association to seek peaceful solution to their demand.
The character of the movement terrified the businessmen and the State. Therefore, the State prepared itself to crush the movement with the help of police force. The police and militia were increased in size and were equipped with dangerous weapons with the financial assistance of local leaders of trade and industry. Chicago's Commercial Club provided machine gun of $2000 to the Illinois National Guards for use against the strikers.
It is on record that the police opened fire on the crowd of strikers on May 3, 1886 at the McCormic Reaper Works Factory in which four persons were killed and many injured. Thereafter, the labours leaders called for a mass meeting the next day in Haymarket Square to protest against the inhuman treatment of the police force.
The meeting continued peacefully. However, at the time of conclusion of meeting, about 180 policemen entered the square and ordered the crowd to disperse from there. In the meantime, a bomb was thrown at the police by unknown persons. This blast of bomb killed one policeman and injured seventy. The police responded by firing into the crowd, which killed one worker and injured many others. The police plundered the offices and residences of labour leaders and arrested about hundred workers, without any charge. Similarly, other workers were harassed.
Later, eight of Chicago's most active leaders were charged with conspiracy to murder in connection with the Haymarket bombing.
All these persons were found guilty by a kangaroo court despite lack of evidence connected with any of them to the bomb-thrower. It is stated that these persons were innocent in this case due to the fact that only one was present in the meeting out of the eight, and he too was on the speaker's platform. Unfortunately, out of them, four persons namely Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolf Fischer and George Engel were hanged on November 11, 1887. Louis Lingg committed suicide in jail. Fortunately, the remaining three were finally pardoned in 1893.
The public opinion of America turned against this rigged trial and created a unique example of unity among the ranks of workers' unions to achieve their goal. At last, the State had to accept and provide legal support to the eight-hour working and other genuine facilities of the working class.
Since then, the labour movement spread all over the world and "May Day" became an official holiday. It is a matter of great consideration that this movement spread in China, Russia, Korea, Cuba and other Socialist countries of the world with remarkable distinction. In fact, "May Day" is a reminder of calling fairness and equal opportunity of job for international workers of every age. This day is celebrated in every part of the world with great enthusiasm through rallies, speeches and banners in memory of mission of Chicago's workers.
May Day will be celebrated today in Pakistan with a similar spirit of international labour community. The analytical aspect of May Day indicates that mutual co-ordination is necessary between the employees and employers of any country for promotion of economy. Generally, they are considered just like the two wheels of an economic vehicle, which cannot be run without the collective efforts of their sincerity and honesty.
It is, therefore, imperative for these two classes of society, particularly the Muslims, to seek guidance from the clear directions of Islam in taking care of the fair rights of each other for their success not only in this mortal world but also hereafter.