By Martín Padulla for staffingamericalatina

Several countries around the world commemorate the International Workers Day on May 1^st, honouring the Martyrs of Chicago.

The Martyrs of Chicago were a group of anarchist labour unionists who were executed in 1886 after being involved in protests aimed to achieve the eight hours’ working day. Back then, the usual working day would last 12, 16 and even 18 hours.

In 1884 the Workers Federation of the United States and Canada summoned workers to fight for an eight hours’ working day, stating unilaterally that workers were going to start following that working day starting May 1^st 1886. The moto was: “Eight hours for work, eight for sleep and eight for home”.

In 1886, the president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, enacted the Ingersoll Act establishing the eight hours’ working day. As employers refused to comply, workers from Chicago started a strike on May 1^st, which began with over 80.000 workers protesting under the leadership of Albert Pearsons. From that day on, the conflict extended to other cities in the US, involving over 400.000 workers in 5.000 simultaneous strikes.

The strikes continued in Chicago on May 2^nd and 3^rd, and there were violent conflicts between the strikers and the police. On May 4^th over 20.000 workers fought against 200 cops. During that strike a bomb killed several cops and injured many others. The police opened fire, killing and hurting lots of workers. The government declared the state of siege and the curfew hour. Several strikers were detained, the strikes were stopped and workers were sent back to work.

On June 21^st 1886 a trial against 31 workers accused of promoting the conflict was initiated. They were all convicted. Two of them received life sentences, one had to do 15 years of forced labour and five were sentenced to death by hanging.

Companies started accepting the eight hours’ working day, a situation that gradually extended. In Paris in 1889, the congress of the Second International (organized by socialist and labour parties) agreed on celebrating the Workers Day on May 1^st every year.

This historical event was the starting point for Labour Law becoming a series of mechanisms that tend to protect workers (which are the weak party in the employer-worker relationship) against abuses and aim to channel social conflicts through negotiation, dialogue and composition. The goal that labour law sought was to abolish violence in societies.

How can we bring new meaning to this in the 21^st century? During the Chicago riots, concepts such as productivity, competitiveness, technology or mobility did not exist. The idea of globalization barely resembled a seed during the Industrial Revolution. Factors such as diversity or intergenerational aspects were irrelevant as basic rights had not been acknowledged yet.

The historical process that led to May 1^st was essentially a struggle to achieve workers’ rights. This struggle stands, though it is necessary to bring new meaning to it. In the 20^th century there was a clear dichotomy: informality or decent work. This concept was created by the International Labour Organization and it summarizes the hopes people have during their working lives, such as having a job that is productive, which provides a decent income, security at the workplace and social protection for families. It also includes good perspectives of personal development and social integration, and granting freedom to form opinions, to associate and to take part in the decisions that affect workers’ lives, as well as to provide the same opportunities and conditions for every men and women.

The Social Dialogue that the ILO promotes to make leaders (rulers, employers and workers) generate the best conditions to create decent work and productive employment are key to achieve an equitable globalization. Promoting atypical forms of formal employment and fighting against unemployment are vital elements as well.

In the 21^st century, working to promote employability, youth employment, articulating public-private policies, creating more and better opportunities to access the formal labour market and to defeat labour informality seem to be the best way to honour the Martyrs of Chicago.