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May 1st is International Workers Day!


Happy International Workers’ Day!

Dear Friend,

This Friday, May 1st, is YOUR day, a day to celebrate all working people.

Please take a moment to thank your co-workers, friends, and family members for all the hard work they do every day.

Many people don’t know about the history of May 1st as a workers’ holiday. Here is some information on the roots of May 1st, also called May Day.

ORIGINS

The origins of International Workers’ Day go back to 1886, when hundreds of thousands workers across the United States went on strike. Workers demanded that their 10- and 12-hour workdays be shortened to an 8-hour day with no reduction in pay. Over the next few years, thousands of workers won the 8-hour workday that many of us still enjoy today.

REMEMBERING THE HAYMARKET MARTYRS

We also celebrate in memory of the Haymarket massacre, in which eight labor activists were framed and put on trial by the government. On May 4, 1886, there was a rally at Chicago’s Haymarket Square in support of striking workers from a nearby factory.

The rally at Haymarket was peaceful until a person threw a bomb into the crowd. Although the identity of the person was, and still is, unknown, the government arrested eight local labor activists, of which only two were actually in attendance at the rally. All eight were labor agitators who were well-known by the government and despised for their political views.

In a trial riddled with falsities and contradictions, all eight were found guilty of the bomb-throwing. Four were hanged, one committed suicide in prison, two were sentenced to life imprisonment, and one was sentenced to fifteen years. The Haymarket trial is regarded as one of the most grossly unjust trials in US history.

On May 1st we honor the Haymarket martyrs' legacy as fighters for social justice.

THE IWW CONTINUES THE STRUGGLE

The Industrial Workers of the World is a rank-and-file labor union open to all workers. Today, we continue to organize workers and work together to build a better future. In honor of May 1st, we’d like to wish you a Happy International Workers’ Day and say THANK YOU for all the hard work that you do!

– JOIN US THIS MAY DAY! –

2:00pm – March from Chinatown to Union Square with Chinese Staff & other orgs – Wobblies meet at corner of Grand & Chrystie

4:00pm – Rally at Starbucks 15th St & Union Sq East, then join larger Union Sq rally

8:00pm – Party at IWW office

(These are NYC plans. For other cities' activities, go to http://www.iww.org/event/2009/05/01/month/all/all/1)

IWW CONTACT INFO
4461 11th St 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101
Stephanie – 201-787-6035 / Liberte – 917-693-7742
www.iww.org / www.wobblycity.org / [email protected]

WSA CONTACT INFO
The Workers Solidarity Alliance is an anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian organization that marches with the IWW on May Day.

Workers Solidarity Alliance- NYC
339 Lafayette St — Room 202 / New York, NY 10012
212-979-8353 / [email protected]