Celebrating International Day 1/5: Demanding care for workers' rights

In the 'Appeal' declared when the First Communist International was founded in 1861, leader Karl Marx spoke a lot about the need to shorten the working day.

The First Congress of the Communist International I held in Geneva (Switzerland) in April 1864 considered the struggle for the 8-hour workday an important task ahead. Later, at the Second Congress in London (England), Eugene Dupond - representing Karl Marx - presented a draft resolution demanding the implementation of the 8-hour workday.

British civil servants who immigrated to America brought with them the movement for an eight-hour work day. In 1868, the American government was forced to pass a law requiring an eight-hour work day in government agencies and factories; but in private factories, workers still had to work 11 to 12 hours a day.

In January 1884, in the large industrial city of Chicago, the American Federation of Labor Congress passed a resolution stating: “...From May 1, 1886, the labor day for all workers will be 8 hours.” The reason for choosing that day was because every year, new contracts between workers and employers were signed on May 1, and so that the capitalists would know in advance the workers’ decision without finding an excuse to refuse.

By May 1, 1886, workers everywhere carried banners: "From now on, no worker must work more than 8 hours a day", "There must be 8 hours of work, 8 hours of recreation, 8 hours of rest". Nearly 5,000 strikes with about 340,000 workers participating broke out across the United States. On that very day, in Washington, New York, Baltimore, Boston... 125,000 workers won the right to an 8-hour work day.

In Chicago, the class struggle was extremely fierce. On May 1, all Chicago workers walked off the job and took to the streets to protest for an 8-hour workday. In the following days, 40,000 workers continued to strike. The employers fired the strikers, hired workers from neighboring cities, hired provocateurs and police to suppress and sabotage the workers' struggle. Many violent conflicts occurred, killing and injuring hundreds of workers, and arresting union leaders... The report of the American Federation of Labor confirmed: "Never in the history of the United States has there been such a strong, comprehensive uprising among the industrial masses."

On July 14, 1889, the Second Communist International was founded in Paris (France), under the leadership of Friedrich Engels and the First Congress of the Second Communist International decided to take May 1 every year as the day of demonstration of strength and common struggle of the proletariat of all countries. Since then, May 1 has become International Labor Day, the day of struggle of the working class, the day of rest and demonstration of strength, the festival of workers and working people around the world.

In our country, on May 1, 1925, for the first time, the Vietnamese proletariat and laborers organized and responded to International Labor Day. From then on, the working class and laborers of Vietnam took May 1 every year as the peak day of the movement to fight against colonialism and imperialism, to gain independence, freedom, democracy, and economic and social rights. On this day, throughout the three regions of the North, Central, and South, workers held massive rallies and demonstrations with the appearance of red hammer and sickle flags, leaflets demanding wage increases, reduced working hours, the abolition of the practice of beating workers, and the postponement of tax collection for farmers...

The history of revolutionary struggles has recorded typical demonstrations and strikes by workers at the Yen Phu Power Plant (Hanoi), Hai Phong Cement Plant (Hai Phong), Hon Gai Coal Mine, Cam Pha (Quang Ninh)... in the North. Also prominent in the South were workers at the Cho Quan Power Plant (Saigon), Di An Railway Factory, farmers at Duc Hoa (Long An), Cao Lanh (Dong Thap), Cho Moi (An Giang) and in many provinces demanding the abolition of poll taxes and tax deferrals... And in the Central region, from Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Nam to Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, farmers also rose up to fight against high poll taxes.

The struggle movement in Nghe An and Ha Tinh began with a large demonstration on May 1, 1930 in Vinh - Ben Thuy City: Workers from the Trang Thi Railway Factory, sawmill, match factory, canned fish factory, and power plant, along with farmers from Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc districts, stood side by side in a protest demanding higher wages, shorter working hours, opposing the terrorist policies of the imperialists and their lackeys, demanding compensation for the families massacred in the Yen Bai Riot, and supporting the struggle of the Nam Dinh Textile Factory. The struggle movement in Nghe An quickly spread to the districts of Ha Tinh, creating a typical revolutionary climax (Nghe Tinh Soviet) in 1930 - 1931.

In Hanoi, on May 1, 1938, a large demonstration involving tens of thousands of people took place at the Exhibition Area with the participation of 25 sectors and classes: railway workers, printers, farmers, women, the elderly, writers, journalists... This was the largest rally during the democratic movement period (1936-1939), a powerful demonstration of the solidarity of the working people.

After the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born, on February 18, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 22 regulating Tet holidays, historical anniversaries and religious holidays, in which May 1 was recognized as one of the major national holidays, when working people had a day off.

On April 29, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 56 deciding that workers and employees would be given a day off but receive full pay on International Labor Day, May 1st, and on that day, anyone who could not take a day off due to objective work conditions would receive double pay. On May 1st, 1946, Uncle Ho issued an appeal in which he confirmed: “In our country, this is the first time that our compatriots and working brothers and sisters are free to celebrate May 1st… For us, it is a day to show the world that this day is not only a Labor Day, but also a day of national solidarity. Solidarity to maintain freedom and democracy. Solidarity to build the country. Solidarity to build a new life.”

During the resistance war against French colonialism and American imperialism (1946-1975), in areas temporarily occupied by the enemy, the struggle of the working people to demand rights, independence, democracy, and freedom on the occasion of May 1st often took place vigorously and sometimes fiercely. The demonstration of force on May 1st, 1961 by 16,000 workers in Saigon and Cho Lon to celebrate the birth of the Liberation Trade Union of South Vietnam is a typical example.

Since the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (May 1975) and especially since the beginning of the comprehensive renovation (December 1986), May 1 has become a great festival for the Vietnamese people, a day to demonstrate the strength of the working class and laborers, and their determination to successfully carry out the cause of industrialization, modernization and firmly defend the Fatherland. At the same time, it is also a day to express solidarity and friendship with the working class and laborers around the world, together fighting for the victory of peace, freedom, democracy and social progress.

According to Kinhtedothi.vn