May Day or International Workers’ Day is observed on May 1 all over the world today to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of the working people to establish an eight-hour workday. It is a public holiday in almost all the countries of the world.

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the US, the workers in mills and factories had been working a long shift, fourteen or even more hours a day.

On May 1st in 1886, inspired by the trade unions, half of the workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Two days later, a workers’ rally was held near the McCormick Harvester Machine Company and about 6000 workers joined it. The rally was addressed by the labour leaders. They urged the workers to stand together, to go on with their struggle and not to give in to their bosses. At one point of the rally, some strike breakers started leaving the meeting place. The strikers went down the street to bring them back. Suddenly about 200 policemen attacked them with clubs and revolvers. One striker was killed instantly, five or six were seriously wounded and many others were injured.

The events of May 1, 1886 are a reminder that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives.     

Bangla Translation: মে দিবস বা আন্তর্জাতিক শ্রমিক দিবস প্রতি বছর ১লা মে সারা বিশ্বে পালিত হয়, যা শ্রমজীবী মানুষের ঐতিহাসিক সংগ্রাম ও আত্মত্যাগকে স্মরণ করে, বিশেষ করে আট ঘণ্টার কর্মদিবস প্রতিষ্ঠার লক্ষ্যে তাদের লড়াইকে সম্মান জানাতে। এটি বিশ্বের প্রায় সব দেশেই একটি সরকারি ছুটির দিন।

১৮তম এবং ১৯তম শতকে ইউরোপ ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে শিল্প বিপ্লবের পর থেকে কল–কারখানার শ্রমিকরা দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে, কখনো কখনো চৌদ্দ ঘণ্টা বা তারও বেশি সময় কাজ করতে বাধ্য হতো।

১৮৮৬ সালের ১লা মে, ট্রেড ইউনিয়নগুলোর অনুপ্রেরণায়, শিকাগোর ম্যাককর্মিক হারভেস্টিং মেশিন কোম্পানির শ্রমিকদের অর্ধেকই আট ঘণ্টার কর্মদিবসের দাবিতে ধর্মঘটে নামে। দু’দিন পর, ম্যাককর্মিক হারভেস্টার মেশিন কোম্পানির নিকট এক শ্রমিক সমাবেশ অনুষ্ঠিত হয়, যেখানে প্রায় ৬,০০০ শ্রমিক অংশগ্রহণ করে। শ্রমিক নেতারা সমাবেশে ভাষণ দেন এবং শ্রমিকদের ঐক্যবদ্ধ থাকার, সংগ্রাম চালিয়ে যাওয়ার এবং মালিকদের অন্যায়ের কাছে নতি স্বীকার না করার আহ্বান জানান।

এক পর্যায়ে, কিছু ধর্মঘট ভঙ্গকারী সমাবেশস্থল ত্যাগ করতে শুরু করে। তখন ধর্মঘটরত শ্রমিকরা তাদের ফিরিয়ে আনার জন্য রাস্তায় নামে। ঠিক তখনই, প্রায় ২০০ পুলিশ সদস্য লাঠি ও আগ্নেয়াস্ত্র নিয়ে শ্রমিকদের ওপর হামলা চালায়। এক শ্রমিক ঘটনাস্থলেই নিহত হয়, পাঁচ–ছয়জন গুরুতর আহত হয় এবং আরও অনেকে আঘাতপ্রাপ্ত হয়।

১৮৮৬ সালের ১লা মে–র ঘটনাবলি আমাদের মনে করিয়ে দেয় যে, যতদিন না শ্রমিকরা তাদের ন্যায্য অধিকার আদায়ের জন্য সোচ্চার হবে, ততদিন তারা শোষণের শিকার হতে থাকবে। শ্রমিকদের ভালো কর্মপরিবেশ, ন্যায্য মজুরি এবং উন্নত জীবন পাওয়ার জন্য সংগ্রাম চালিয়ে যেতে হবে।

A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.

1. When is May Day observed worldwide?
   (i) April 1
   (ii) May 1
   (iii) June 1
   (iv) July 1
   Ans: (ii) May 1
2. May Day is also known as:
   (i) Workers’ Solidarity Day
   (ii) Labour Day
   (iii) International Workers’ Day
   (iv) All of the above
   Ans: (iv) All of the above
3. What is the primary reason for observing May Day?
   (i) To celebrate the achievements of trade unions
   (ii) To commemorate the struggle for workers’ rights
   (iii) To promote industrialization
   (iv) To honor business owners
   Ans: (ii) To commemorate the struggle for workers’ rights
4. The Industrial Revolution took place mainly in:
   (i) Asia
   (ii) Europe and the US
   (iii) Africa
   (iv) South America
   Ans: (ii) Europe and the US
5. Before the eight-hour workday movement, how many hours did factory workers typically work?
   (i) 6-8 hours
   (ii) 10-12 hours
   (iii) 14 or more hours
   (iv) 8-10 hours
   Ans: (iii) 14 or more hours
6. Which company’s workers initiated the May Day strike in 1886?
   (i) Ford Motors
   (ii) McCormick Harvesting Machine Company
   (iii) General Electric
   (iv) US Steel Corporation
   Ans: (ii) McCormick Harvesting Machine Company
7. Where did the May 1, 1886 strike take place?
   (i) New York
   (ii) Chicago
   (iii) Boston
   (iv) San Francisco
   Ans: (ii) Chicago
8. What was the main demand of the striking workers on May 1, 1886?
   (i) Increase in wages
   (ii) Weekly holidays
   (iii) An eight-hour workday
   (iv) Free medical care
   Ans: (iii) An eight-hour workday
9. How many workers joined the rally near McCormick Harvester Machine Company on May 3, 1886?
   (i) 1000
   (ii) 3000
   (iii) 6000
   (iv) 9000
   Ans: (iii) 6000
10. What did the labor leaders urge the workers to do?
    (i) Accept their conditions
    (ii) Stand together and continue their struggle
    (iii) Return to work immediately
    (iv) Demand free lunch
    Ans: (ii) Stand together and continue their struggle
11. What happened when some strike-breakers left the rally?
    (i) They were arrested
    (ii) The workers tried to bring them back
    (iii) The rally ended peacefully
    (iv) The police supported them
    Ans: (ii) The workers tried to bring them back
12. How many policemen attacked the workers on May 3, 1886?
    (i) 50
    (ii) 100
    (iii) 200
    (iv) 500
    Ans: (iii) 200
13. How did the police attack the workers?
    (i) With water cannons
    (ii) With clubs and revolvers
    (iii) By arresting all workers
    (iv) By throwing tear gas
    Ans: (ii) With clubs and revolvers
14. How many workers were killed instantly during the police attack?
    (i) One
    (ii) Three
    (iii) Five
    (iv) Ten
    Ans: (i) One
15. What was the long-term impact of the May 1, 1886 strike?
    (i) Workers stopped protesting
    (ii) The demand for an eight-hour workday spread globally
    (iii) The industrialists won completely
    (iv) Trade unions were banned
    Ans: (ii) The demand for an eight-hour workday spread globally
16. What do the events of May 1, 1886 remind workers?
    (i) They should remain silent
    (ii) They will always be exploited
    (iii) They must stand up and speak out for their rights
    (iv) They should accept poor working conditions
    Ans: (iii) They must stand up and speak out for their rights
17. What is one major right that workers achieved due to their struggles?
    (i) Child labor laws
    (ii) Minimum wage laws
    (iii) The eight-hour workday
    (iv) All of the above
    Ans: (iv) All of the above
18. What is the importance of trade unions in workers’ struggles?
    (i) They negotiate for better conditions
    (ii) They oppose workers’ rights
    (iii) They support factory owners
    (iv) They encourage long working hours
    Ans: (i) They negotiate for better conditions
19. Which of the following best describes May Day?
    (i) A day of celebration for factory owners
    (ii) A day to remember workers’ struggles and achievements
    (iii) A festival for businessmen
    (iv) A national holiday only in the USA
    Ans: (ii) A day to remember workers’ struggles and achievements
20. What is one lesson workers today can learn from May Day?
    (i) Struggles for rights can bring change
    (ii) Strikes are useless
    (iii) Exploitation is inevitable
    (iv) Only factory owners deserve rights
    Ans: (i) Struggles for rights can bring change
21. What is one reason some countries still do not recognize May Day?
    (i) They oppose trade unions
    (ii) They believe in unlimited working hours
    (iii) They do not support workers’ rights
    (iv) All of the above
    Ans: (iv) All of the above
22. In which year was the eight-hour workday officially adopted in the US?
    (i) 1890
    (ii) 1912
    (iii) 1938
    (iv) 1945
    Ans: (iii) 1938
23. How does May Day impact modern labor laws?
    (i) It has no impact
    (ii) It inspired labor rights movements worldwide
    (iii) It made working hours longer
    (iv) It forced workers to work without pay
    Ans: (ii) It inspired labor rights movements worldwide
24. What type of workplaces were most affected by early labor movements?
    (i) Hospitals
    (ii) Factories and mills
    (iii) Government offices
    (iv) Schools
    Ans: (ii) Factories and mills
25. What does “strike” mean in a labor movement?
    (i) A break from work to demand better conditions
    (ii) A fun gathering of workers
    (iii) A new work policy
    (iv) A way to get promoted
    Ans: (i) A break from work to demand better conditions
26. What was one major reason industrial workers were vulnerable to exploitation during the 18th and 19th centuries?
    (i) They lacked formal education and legal protection
    (ii) They refused to work efficiently
    (iii) They earned too much compared to their employers
    (iv) They had shorter work hours than farmers
    Ans: (i) They lacked formal education and legal protection
27. Which social and economic system was largely responsible for the harsh working conditions that led to the May Day movement?
    (i) Feudalism
    (ii) Capitalism
    (iii) Communism
    (iv) Socialism
    Ans: (ii) Capitalism
28. The eight-hour workday movement was a response to which major economic transformation?
    (i) The Agricultural Revolution
    (ii) The Green Revolution
    (iii) The Industrial Revolution
    (iv) The Digital Revolution
    Ans: (iii) The Industrial Revolution
29. The phrase “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will” was first used by:
    (i) Karl Marx
    (ii) Robert Owen
    (iii) Friedrich Engels
    (iv) Eugene Debs
    Ans: (ii) Robert Owen
30. What major global event in the 20th century further strengthened workers’ rights, leading to widespread adoption of labor laws?
    (i) World War I
    (ii) World War II
    (iii) The Cold War
    (iv) The Great Depression
    Ans: (ii) World War II
31. Which ideology strongly influenced the May Day movement and global labor rights activism?
    (i) Libertarianism
    (ii) Marxism
    (iii) Fascism
    (iv) Nationalism
    Ans: (ii) Marxism
32. Which country was the first to officially recognize May Day as a public holiday?
    (i) United States
    (ii) Germany
    (iii) Soviet Union
    (iv) France
    Ans: (iii) Soviet Union
33. The Haymarket Affair, a key event in labor history, took place in which year?
    (i) 1884
    (ii) 1886
    (iii) 1892
    (iv) 1901
    Ans: (ii) 1886
34. What was the immediate consequence of the Haymarket Affair in 1886?
    (i) The immediate implementation of an eight-hour workday
    (ii) The execution of several labor activists
    (iii) The end of all labor protests in the U.S.
    (iv) The imprisonment of factory owners
    Ans: (ii) The execution of several labor activists
35. The International Workers’ Association, one of the earliest global labor movements, was founded in:
    (i) 1848
    (ii) 1864
    (iii) 1889
    (iv) 1919
    Ans: (ii) 1864
36. Which of the following international organizations actively promotes workers’ rights?
    (i) The World Bank
    (ii) The International Labour Organization (ILO)
    (iii) The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    (iv) The World Trade Organization (WTO)
    Ans: (ii) The International Labour Organization (ILO)
37. Which region of the world has been historically the most resistant to recognizing May Day as a labor holiday?
    (i) Western Europe
    (ii) Latin America
    (iii) The United States
    (iv) South Asia
    Ans: (iii) The United States
38. Which of the following labor rights is not commonly associated with May Day protests?
    (i) Minimum wage laws
    (ii) Workplace safety regulations
    (iii) Voting rights
    (iv) Collective bargaining rights
    Ans: (iii) Voting rights
39. How did the Cold War affect the global observance of May Day?
    (i) It became a symbol of communist ideology in the USSR and socialist states
    (ii) It was banned worldwide
    (iii) The U.S. and its allies promoted May Day celebrations
    (iv) It lost significance in labor movements
    Ans: (i) It became a symbol of communist ideology in the USSR and socialist states
40. In which decade did labor rights movements peak in most Western democracies?
    (i) 1920s
    (ii) 1930s
    (iii) 1960s
    (iv) 1980s
    Ans: (iii) 1960s
41. Why do some modern economists argue against May Day protests?
    (i) They believe labor unions slow down economic growth
    (ii) They think workers should have unlimited hours
    (iii) They argue workers are already overpaid
    (iv) They want to replace workers with robots
    Ans: (i) They believe labor unions slow down economic growth
42. What is a major new challenge for labor rights in the 21st century?
    (i) Child labor in textile mills
    (ii) Unsafe coal mining conditions
    (iii) The rise of automation and job displacement
    (iv) The Industrial Revolution
    Ans: (iii) The rise of automation and job displacement
43. In today’s gig economy, what is a major labor concern?
    (i) Lack of job security and benefits
    (ii) Too many high-paying jobs
    (iii) Increased job satisfaction
    (iv) Decreasing working hours worldwide
    Ans: (i) Lack of job security and benefits
44. What do critics argue about May Day protests in the modern world?
    (i) They are no longer relevant
    (ii) They are a political tool rather than a workers’ movement
    (iii) They cause economic disruptions
    (iv) All of the above
    Ans: (iv) All of the above
45. Which sector is currently seeing the largest demand for labor rights improvements?
    (i) Agriculture
    (ii) Tech and digital industries
    (iii) Heavy manufacturing
    (iv) Government jobs
    Ans: (ii) Tech and digital industries
46. Why was an eight-hour workday considered revolutionary in the 19th century?
    (i) It reduced employer profits significantly
    (ii) It challenged the idea of endless labor exploitation
    (iii) It was promoted by wealthy industrialists
    (iv) It allowed workers to work fewer days a week
    Ans: (ii) It challenged the idea of endless labor exploitation
47. What is one reason why labor strikes remain a powerful tool for workers?
    (i) They create economic pressure on employers
    (ii) They reduce productivity permanently
    (iii) They eliminate competition
    (iv) They increase wages without negotiations
    Ans: (i) They create economic pressure on employers
48. How have multinational corporations affected modern labor movements?
    (i) By moving jobs to countries with weaker labor laws
    (ii) By increasing wages for all workers
    (iii) By giving workers complete control
    (iv) By banning trade unions worldwide
    Ans: (i) By moving jobs to countries with weaker labor laws
49. What is a key difference between early labor movements and today’s labor rights struggles?
    (i) Modern struggles focus more on corporate policies and technology
    (ii) Early movements demanded longer working hours
    (iii) Today’s struggles focus only on industrial workers
    (iv) Early labor activists fought for fewer rights than today
    Ans: (i) Modern struggles focus more on corporate policies and technology
50. How might future labor movements change?
    (i) More emphasis on remote work and digital labor rights
    (ii) Less focus on workers’ rights
    (iii) A return to 14-hour workdays
    (iv) A complete ban on labor protests
    Ans: (i) More emphasis on remote work and digital labor rights

 B. Answer the following questions:

1. What is May Day, and why is it celebrated?
2. When is International Workers’ Day observed?
3. Where did the first May Day labor protests take place?
4. Who were the key figures behind the early labor movement?
5. Why did workers demand an eight-hour workday?
6. Which industry was most affected by labor exploitation during the Industrial Revolution?
7. What were the working conditions like before the eight-hour workday was introduced?
8. When did the first formal May Day protests occur?
9. Where did the Haymarket Affair take place?
10. Who were the major labor organizations involved in the May Day movement?
11. What was the main cause of the Haymarket Riot in 1886?
12. Why did the police attack workers during the Chicago protests?
13. Who were the people sentenced after the Haymarket Affair, and what happened to them?
14. Which country was the first to officially declare May Day a public holiday?
15. What role did trade unions play in the early labor rights movements?
16. When did the International Labour Organization (ILO) start advocating for workers’ rights?
17. Where were some of the largest May Day demonstrations held in the 20th century?
18. Who were the leaders of the early socialist and communist movements that supported May Day?
19. Why was the eight-hour workday such a revolutionary demand in the 19th century?
20. Which major world events strengthened labor rights globally?
21. What are some modern challenges that workers still face today?
22. Why is May Day not widely recognized as a holiday in the United States?
23. Where are labor rights violations most common in the world today?
24. Who benefits the most from strong labor laws?
25. Which professions still require significant labor reforms in the 21st century?
26. When did child labor laws become a global standard?
27. What impact does globalization have on workers’ rights?
28. Why do some companies oppose labor unions?
29. Which technological changes are affecting job security today?

Who decides labor laws in different countries?