HAPPY LABOUR DAY

Its a wet, wet, wet! day here in Lasgidi (Lagos State), but I seem to be very grumpy, oh wait, its rain again, aw, wish I could sleep it through, but hey, I have to be at the radio station bright and earl, given the fact that I know as a broadcaster and journalist, there really isn't any rest for me till the day I own CNN (Oops! did I just say that? oh well), since I learnt that Al Jazeera's license may be revoked I have had one word on my mind, "Buy", yes, if they could do it, CNN too did it, then why can't I get my own media platform? Oh well, guess I should just stick to my radio job till then.

Speaking about job, yes unlike us here in the media, the other sector of the labour union is having a good rested day, they are observing the "Labour Day", need I say more, here is the 411 as regards some countries, continent and cities.

May Day, which usually occurs on May 1 in many countries, stems from ancient customs associated with the celebration of spring. It is also a national holiday for workers in many countries around the world.

Labour Day food for thought in Asia

1st May 2013Help

Hundreds of millions of workers across Asia - and the rest of the world - are enjoying a holiday to mark International Labour Day.

But as the labour movement is celebrated, last week's factory collapse in Bangladesh is just one example of how workers' rights in this region often come off second best in the rush for profits.

Even in the most developed Asian economies there are challenges, whether it's better conditions, creating new jobs to satisfy demand - or even finding the right worker.

South Korea and India are just two examples of how different the challenges can be.

Labour Day in Canada

Labour Day in Canada is celebrated on the first Monday of September. It originally gave workers the chance to campaign for better working conditions or pay. The day is now part of a long weekend for many Canadians.

What do people do?

Traditionally, Labour Day was an occasion to campaign for and celebrate workers' rights during parades and picnics organized by trade unions. These still play a role in Labour Day for some Canadians, but many people see the first Monday in September as an opportunity to take a late summer trip, perhaps to their country cottage, or enjoy the company of family or friends at picnics, fairs, festivals and fireworks displays. For teenagers and other students, the Labour Day weekend is the last chance to celebrate with a party or to go on a trip before school re-opens for the new academic year.

Canadian football fans may spend a large proportion of the weekend watching the Labour Day Classic matches live or on television. The Labour Day Classic consists of three games between high ranking teams in the Canadian Football League. One match is played on the Sunday before Labour Day and two on Labour Day.

Public life

Post offices, many businesses, and many organizations are closed on Labour Day in Canada. Schools and other educational establishments are also closed, as Labour Day falls at the end of the summer holiday period. Many public transport services run to a reduced or "Sunday" service, although others may not run at all. There may be some local disruption to traffic around parades, particularly in Toronto, and some congestion on highways and at airports as people return form late summer vacations or trips.

Background

The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to April 15, 1872, when the Toronto Trades Assembly organized Canada's first significant demonstration for worker's rights. The aim of the demonstration was to release the 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union who were imprisoned for striking to campaign for a nine-hour working day. At this time, trade unions were still illegal and striking was seen as a criminal conspiracy to disrupt trade. In spite of this, the Toronto Trades Assembly was already a significant organization and encouraged workers to form trade unions, mediated in disputes between employers and employees and signaled the mistreatment of workers.

There was enormous public support for the parade and the authorities could no longer deny the important role that the trade unions had to play in the emerging Canadian society. A few months later, a similar parade was organized in Ottawa and passed the house of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John Macdonald. Later in the day, he appeared before the gathering and promised to repeal all Canadian laws against trade unions. This happened in the same year and eventually led to the founding of the Canadian Labour Congress in 1883.

Labour Day was originally celebrated in the spring but it was moved to the fall after 1894. A similar holiday, Labor Day is held on the same day in the United States of America. Canadian trade unions are proud that this holiday was inspired by their efforts to improve workers' rights. Many countries have a holiday to celebrate workers' rights on or around May 1.

LABOUR DAY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The origin of May Day is indissolubly bound up with the struggle for the shorter workday – a demand of major political significance for the working class. This struggle is manifest almost from the beginning of the factory system in the United States.

Although the demand for higher wages appears to be the most prevalent cause for the early strikes in this country, the question of shorter hours and the right to organize were always kept in the foreground when workers formulated their demands against the bosses and the government. As exploitation was becoming intensified and workers were feeling more and more the strain of inhumanly long working hours, the demand for an appreciable reduction of hours became more pronounced.

What do people do?

May Day ceremonies that stem from the traditional centuries-old May Day traditions are celebrated across the world. In Hawaii, May Day is known as Lei Day to celebrate the island’s culture.

In the United Kingdom, May Day is still celebrated in many towns with the crowning of the May Queen. Maypoles can still be found in some towns and May Day traditions may include hobby horses and local people dressed in costumes.  In Oxford, traditions are upheld for May Day celebrations, starting with the choir of Magdalen College singing from the top of the chapel tower.

May Day is also referred to as Labor Day in many countries, as it also evolved from efforts of the labor union movement to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. It is celebrated as a national holiday across many countries in continents around the world. In Mexico, it is referred to as Primero de Mayo, and is a national holiday honoring workers.  Around this time of the year, students in educational institutions may discuss the modern evolution of the holiday and the effects of politics on this day.

Public life

May 1 is a national holiday many European countries including (but not exclusive to): Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.  It is also celebrated in countries in Central America, such as Costa Rica and Panama, and in some parts of the Caribbean, including Cuba. It is also a national holiday in Mexico. In South America, it is observed in countries such as: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. May 1 is also a national holiday in the Russian Federation and Asian countries such as China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

May Day is not a federal holiday in the United States, nor is it a bank holiday in the United Kingdom, on May 1. Schools, post offices, stores and other businesses and organizations are open as usual. Public transport services run to their usual schedules and no extra congestion on highways is to be expected. However, the Labor Day holiday, or Labour Day, is celebrated in the United States and countries such as Australia and Canada at different times of the year.  

Background

Originally a celebration of spring and the rebirth taking place in nature, May Day dates back pagan cults that worshipped trees and other symbols of nature. Traditionally, May Day is characterized by the gathering of flowers and the fertility rite of dancing around the maypole. In recent years, particularly in socialist and Communist countries, May Day has become a labor festival honoring the military and industrial efforts of the country.

The eight-hour movement to reduce the working day from 10 to eight hours began after the Civil War. It was a major aim of the National Labor Union, whose first congress met in 1866. By 1868 congress and six states passed an eight-hour legislation. In 1884 the National Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Assemblies decided to call for a general strike on May 1, 1886, to enforce demands for employers to observe the eight-hour day. In 1947, amidst the anti-Communist Cold War hysteria, the US Veterans of Foreign Wars renamed May 1 as "Loyalty Day" and a joint session of Congress later made the pronouncement official.

In many countries, the May 1 holiday was obtained by trade union agitation supported by socialist parties. However, in Germany where such agitation had proved fruitless, it was instituted in 1933 as a gift from Hitler, being promptly followed by the abolition of trade unions. In the United Kingdom, a May Day Bank Holiday was instituted in 1978 for trade unionists to celebrate, but was held on the first Monday in May to minimize the damage to business.

In China, Labor Day was extended to three days during the 1990s. The Chinese government made it a seven-day holiday by moving the prior and upcoming weekends together with these three days. This holiday allowed millions of Chinese people to travel during this period. The People's Republic of China reduced this holiday period down to one day in 2008, while simultaneously reviving three traditional Chinese holidays: the Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival

Symbols and Superstition

Many ancient customs associated with May Day come from the old Roman festival of flowers. These include gathering branches and flowers, choosing or crowning a May Queen and dancing around a bush, tree or decorated pole (the May Pole). The sports and festivities held on this day symbolize the rebirth of nature as well as human fertility. In Spain, a tall pine tree is used as a Maypole. It is decorated with ribbons, beads, and eggshells as people dance around the pole and sing May songs.

There is a superstition in Norway, dating back to pre-Christian times, about hearing the cuckoo’s first call in the spring. If the call comes from the south, the year will be good. If it is heard from the north, it is forecasted as a year of ill luck. If it comes from the west, one will be successful, and if it comes from the east, one will be lucky in love. For this reason, traditional Norwegian calendars show a bird perched in a tree on the mark for May 1.

Google doodle pays tribute to workers on Labour Day

Google salutes workers all over the world by dedicating a doodle to the workers on the ocassion of International Workers' Day, 2013, on Wednesday.

Also known as Labour Day, May 1 is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers throughout the year.

The doodle on the homepage shows Google's logo in the shape of building blocks with several men doing their jobs.

The doodle features an IT professional on her computer, a gardener watering a tree, a painter giving the letter 'O' a paint job and a plumber fixing a leak around the letter 'E'.

We can also see a helicopter hovering above the second 'G' and a satellite dish, indicative of modern-day communication, perched on the 'E'.

Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, especially the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

Labour Day in India is celebrated on May 1 every year. It is an official public holiday.

In India, the first International Workers’ Day (also known as May Day) was celebrated in Madras by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on May 1, 1923.

May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries and celebrated unofficially in many other countries.

However, many countries do not celebrate Labour Day on May 1. While in Australia, Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday of October; in Canada, the day is observed on the first Monday of September.

Though Google had dedicated a doodle to workers in 2012, the doodle was not posted on its India home page.

Well, that's all folks, will be back later to give you the full details on how my day went, the Salt N Pepa experience here today and definitely, the experience of how the concert, "Music and Miracles" goes today at Davids Christian Center.....follow the link for more details. http://vien-smart.blogspot.com/2013/04/music-and-miracles.html

Happy workers day, remember, be kind to one another.

Bamidele V. Osagie