Happy May Day! Otherwise known as International Workers’ Day, or Labor Day in some countries.
In the U.S. we now celebrate Labor Day in September, but one of the most famous “May Day” strikes happened here. In May 1886, American workers in Chicago went on strike to gain the 8-hour workday. (At that time, a lot of workers had to work 10-16 hour days in dangerous conditions.)
“8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, 8 hours for what we will” was the slogan of the workers.
Thousands of workers banded together in trade unions to demand the reduction in hours without a cut in pay. Business owners and the police tried to quash the strike, violence broke out, and many workers and police officers were injured and some were even killed.
Eventually, the workers in the labor movement were successful, and we have them to thank for the 8-hour workday, and eventually for getting paid overtime for working more than 40 hours a week. (And many other worker protections.)
So Happy May Day to all of the hard-working NFFE Local 1998 union members, and to workers everywhere!
~NFFE Local 1998
Some articles for anyone who is curious and wants to learn more:
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/30/1095729592/what-is-may-day-history
https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-haymarket-affair
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day