Why We Need May Day More Than Ever
In 1886, there was a call to all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically in solidarity on the First of May for the legal establishment of the 8-hour work day, class demands of the proletariat, and universal peace. From that date onward, May 1 has been celebrated as international workers' day by more than 80 countries across the globe. But not in America. In 1892, President Grover Cleveland signed into law a designation of the First Monday in September as Labor Day, fearing the close ties between May Day and socialism.
Fast forward 126 years: May Day belongs to the workers; Labor Day belongs to the capitalists.
As the power of labor unions has eroded, working conditions erode. There is no longer a culture of solidarity that gave workers the strength to fight for rights for all. Capitalists operating globally without borders are free to treat workers as one more cost of production, while workers face borders and deportation for seeking living wage work. This has lead to greater income/wealth disparities and a population of disposable people living in areas where factories have left for cheaper labor, more lax environment regulations, lower taxes.
As bleak as this seems, we found a spark that offers the hope for a fire of change. Educational personal, including teachers, aides, custodial and cafeteria workers, and bus drivers in states and localities across the country--Oklahoma, West Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, DeKalb County Georgia--organizing at the grassroots; finding solidarity with parents, students, and other labor unions; and using a variety of tactics (and not aligning with any mainstream political party) are walking in and walking out and marching and chanting and making demands for real change. Can this be the spark that starts the fire that brings capitalism down?
On this day after May Day, 2018, listen to our conversation with hosts Albert and Barbara and guest Rajeev Ravisankar on the state of labor today and how education workers are showing signs on May Day 1886.