Don't forget the "initial heart" of "May 1st" International Labor Day千万不要忘记“五一”国际劳动节的“初心”

 Don't forget the "initial heart" of "May 1st" International Labor Day

Every year on May 1st, working people all over the world celebrate their own festival - "May 1st" International Labor Day. However, this festival that belongs to workers all over the world was paid for by workers in Chicago, USA, at the cost of their lives more than a hundred years ago. They are not afraid of power, and their figures of running and shouting for the interests of workers have also been frozen in the eternity of history.

"May 1st" International Labor Day is actually a battle anniversary. The 1880s was a turning point in the history of the American labor movement. At that time, the American capitalist economy was developing at a high speed. American workers, like workers in many countries, had heavy workloads, low wages, and long working hours, usually 10 hours, and some even as long as 12-15 hours. Extremely low wages, long working hours, and the treatment of workers have not changed substantially with the rapid development of capitalism. Workers' dissatisfaction has continued to accumulate, which eventually led to strikes. The overseer of a shoe factory in Massachusetts said: "Take a strong, healthy boy of 18 years old to work next to any machine here, and I can make his hair gray at the age of 22." Heavy. The oppression of the class aroused great anger among the workers.

1877 American Railroad Workers Strike

In 1877, the first national general strike in American history took place. At that time, the ranks of the working class in the United States continued to expand, organizations increased rapidly, and the number of trade union members increased sharply. Unskilled workers and semi-skilled workers participated in strikes one after another. They demanded improvements in working and living conditions, and even a complete change in the economic system. At that time, the broad masses generally demanded that working hours be shortened, put forward the slogan of implementing an eight-hour work system, and fought for it. Some workers said: "We want a decree made by the workers themselves, stipulating that the eight-hour working day will be implemented every day from a certain date." The struggle for the eight-hour working system in the early 1880s was mainly limited to legislative activities. But in 1882, then-President Chester Arthur declared: "I do not think the law of the eight-hour day is constitutional, and no power in the world can make me enforce an unconstitutional law." American workers couldn't bear it anymore, took to the streets, and began a massive nationwide struggle. As a representative of the big bourgeoisie in the United States, these remarks of the President of the United States reflected the attitude of the big bourgeoisie in the United States at that time.

On May 1, 1886, 350,000 workers in more than 10,000 units in the United States began to strike for the eight-hour working system. Working men and women, black and white workers, and diasporas in cities such as Chicago, New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Washington, were engaged in this historic struggle. At that time, "Song of Eight Hours" was popular among the striking workers, in which it sang:

We're going to change the world,

We are weary of vain toil,

Just get a salary that barely survives,

There is never time for us to think.

We're going to bask in the sun,

We shall smell the flowers,

we believe:

God only allows for an eight-hour workday.

From the docks, workshops and workshops we,

We have assembled our teams to fight for:

work eight hours,

eight hours rest,

Eight hours to yourself!

Chicago workers strike met with crackdown

The passionate singing sang the hearts of the workers and the common aspirations of the proletarians all over the world, and also infected the masses. They supported the strike movement of the workers one after another and pushed the strike movement to a new climax. The enormous power displayed by the strike movement made the government authorities and the capitalists extremely panicked. They were unwilling to agree to the conditions of the workers, so they showed their ferocious side. Chicago is the city where the fight for the eight-hour day has been fiercest. The "May 1st" strike here showed the powerful strength of the working class and achieved great success. 40,000 workers participated in the "May 1st" strike, and more than 80,000 workers participated in the demonstrations. for anarchists. A Chicago newspaper wrote at the time: "The rail traffic in the city of Chicago is at a standstill, all the warehouses are closed and sealed, and most of Chicago's industry is paralyzed. No plume of smoke can be seen from the tall chimneys of factories and manufactures."

The sheer strength of the American working class on May 1 frightened the authorities and the capitalists, who were terrified by the increasingly revolutionary nature of the event, local business leaders who demanded an increase in the number of police and the military . The Merchant Club of Chicago purchased a large number of guns to guard against the strike. On May 3, the Chicago government authorities finally tore off the mask of "democracy" and used violence to suppress the workers. They organized strike breakers, sneaked into the workers' strike team under the protection of the police, broke the strike at the McCormick Harvester Manufacturing Plant in Chicago, deliberately created chaos, and shot and killed 6 workers on the spot. This atrocity aroused the great indignation of the workers in the city, and they were determined to avenge the dead workers! The striking workers resolutely protested, but were massacred and many were killed or injured. The striking workers decided to hold a mass meeting in the city square the next day, May 4, to protest police brutality. It can be seen from this that in capitalist countries, when the activities of the working class violate the interests of the big bourgeoisie, their suppression of the working class is merciless.

On May 4th, Chicago workers gathered in the city square. The participants made speeches condemning the police brutality, and the meeting place was in good order. As the meeting drew to a close, a team of heavily armed policemen entered the venue and used force to disperse the crowd. At this time, someone at the venue threw a bomb at the police. A total of 6 policemen were killed or seriously injured on the spot. The police immediately opened fire on the crowd. Many workers were killed and more than 200 people were injured. Since it was impossible to determine who dropped the bomb, the incident became the basis for attacks on the Labor Day parade. (In fact, a reporter once revealed that a capitalist hired murderers to throw the bomb in order to intensify the conflict between the police and workers. But this report was not taken seriously.) The police raided the suspect’s home and office, and hundreds of people were arrested without charge. Arrests, notably those of the movement's leaders, were attacked, and eight Chicago activists were charged with the plaza bombing and attempted treason, and the court held a trial with insufficient evidence. One of the leaders of the labor movement that the U.S. police failed to arrest for six weeks——Bai Shengsi, on the day of the trial, he suddenly came to the court and publicly announced: "Your Excellency, I am here to meet with you. My companions appeared in court together."

These working-class leaders fought in court. Spieth made an impassioned speech: "I speak as a representative of one class to a representative of another class. If you think that by hanging us, you can destroy the labor movement, and destroy those who have been ravaged in poverty and misery. then hang us! You may snuff out a spark here, but it is there that behind you and in front of you there will be flames everywhere .It's a fire from hell, and you can't put it out."

As a result of the interrogation, seven people were sentenced to death. On November 1, 1887, 4 people, Dessen, Spies, Fesch and Engel were executed; Felden and Schwab's original sentence of death was changed to life imprisonment; Linden committed suicide; Neby was sentenced to 15 years in prison .

The atrocities committed by the big bourgeoisie and the government against workers in the United States aroused strong protests from the working class in the United States and all over the world. Marx's daughter Elena Max Aveling and her husband called on British workers to "support the American brothers by means of meetings and resolutions". British workers have held numerous rallies to protest the murder of labor leaders.

The eight-hour work system proposed by American workers during the struggle reflected the specific requirements of workers in capitalist countries at that time, so it was quickly accepted by the European and American proletariat and was valued by the international labor movement. In 1889, the National Socialist Congress was held in Paris and the Second International was established. At this congress, French representative Lavin proposed that May 1st be used as a festival of workers all over the world to commemorate the revolutionary struggle of Chicago workers. The congress accepted his proposal and passed a resolution on "May 1st" International Labor Day, pointing out: "In a day as a permanent regulation, organize international large-scale demonstrations so that the workers of all countries and all cities On the same day, the authorities are asked to establish an eight-hour working day and to implement other resolutions of the Paris International Congress."

On May 1, 1890, workers in France, Germany, the United States, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway and Sweden all held demonstrations; British workers held demonstrations on May 4 (Sunday). Workers from all over the world unanimously put forward requirements such as an eight-hour working system. Engels fully affirmed this activity. When he described the "May 1st" International Labor Day in 1890, he wrote: "Today's scene will surely make the capitalists and landlords of the world know that the proletarians of the world have now truly united."

"May 1st" International Labor Day and the Communist Party of China and the Working Class

The Chinese people's celebration of Labor Day can be traced back to 1908. The Chinese working class commemorated the "May Day" International Labor Day for the first time on May 1, 1908. Workers in Harbin, Northeast China, held a May Day strike together with Russian workers. A meeting of ten thousand people was held on the banks of the Songhua River to commemorate the "May 1st" International Labor Day. However, this workers' strike was supported by Russian workers and took place in the remote Northeast. It lacked the response of inland workers, so it is not widely known.

In 1918, some revolutionary intellectuals distributed leaflets introducing "May Day" to the masses in Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Hankou and other places. After the May 4th Movement, Marxism spread widely in China, and intellectuals with preliminary communist ideas went deep into the working masses. By May Day in 1920, there was a clear trend of combining Marxism with the labor movement.

The first large-scale commemoration of "May Day" by the Chinese working class was on May 1, 1920. On this day, workers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jiujiang, Tangshan and other industrial cities marched to the streets in mighty fashion, and held huge demonstrations and rallies.

Li Dazhao published "History of "May Day" Movement" specially in "New Youth", introducing the origin of "May Day" festival and the activities of workers in countries such as the United States and France to commemorate "May Day". " as the date of awakening. Chen Duxiu also published an article titled "The Problem of Female Workers in Hunan in Shanghai Housheng Cotton Mill" to celebrate this festival, exposing the truth about capitalists' exploitation of workers' surplus value. Chen Duxiu also gave a speech on "The Consciousness of the Toilers" at the Shanghai Shipping and Warehouse Industry Federation, clarifying the views that "labor creates the world" and "workers are the most useful and valuable". Workers and intellectuals from all over the world gathered together that day. In Shanghai, under the guidance of Chen Duxiu, more than 5,000 workers held the World Labor Memorial Conference jointly prepared by 7 groups including the All-China Industry Association. Chen Duxiu was elected as the consultant of the preparatory conference. At the commemorative meeting, representatives from all walks of life gave speeches. Workers put forward the requirements of the "three-eight system" of 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, and 8 hours of education, and shouted slogans such as "Long live labor" and "Long live the Chinese industry". After the meeting, the Shanghai Workers' Declaration and a circular to the Russian Labor and Peasant Government were issued.

"New Youth" also published a special commemorative issue, and published important articles such as Li Dazhao's "May 1" Movement History, Chen Duxiu's "Workers' Consciousness", "Shanghai Housheng Spinning Factory Hunan Women Workers Issue", and Shanghai , Beijing, Tianjin, Wuhan and other more than 10 cities and regions of the survey report on the status of workers. In Beijing, Li Dazhao led commemorative activities centered on Peking University. Peking University students went on strike on this day, and the "Peking University Student Weekly" published the "Labor Memorial". The school held a commemorative meeting attended by more than 500 janitors and students, and Li Dazhao spoke at the meeting. He Mengxiong and other 8 Peking University students and some young people went out to publicize and distributed the "Beijing Labor Manifesto on May 1", arousing workers to fight against exploitation and fight for their own rights, and were arrested by the police. Deng Zhongxia went to Changxindian, Beijing, and distributed the "Beijing Labor Manifesto on May 1st" to railway workers and delivered a speech. This is the first time that the working class in China commemorates the "May 1st" International Labor Day, and it is also the first "May 1st" Labor Day in Chinese history.

On the eve of "May Day" in 1921, in the Changxindian labor extension school founded by Deng Zhongxia, a member of the communism group in Beijing, the workers learned to sing "May Day Memorial Song". Its lyrics are:

beautiful freedom,

world star,

fight my blood,

sacrificed for him,

To sweep away the system of power,

Remember the good day of May 1st.

red flags flying,

walk the bright road,

each do his best,

Take what you need,

Rich or poor, high or low,

The only responsibility is to help each other, and we hope that everyone will work hard to make progress together.

This majestic and powerful song was composed jointly by teachers from Changxindian Labor Practice School and advanced students from Peking University.

In 1920, Peking University commemorated the "May 1st" International Labor Day conference venue

From July 20 to August 12, 1921, the workers of the old and new factories of the Shanghai British American Tobacco Factory went on strike, and more than 8,000 workers participated in the strike. The Chinese Communist Party participated in leading the strike and achieved initial victory. This was also the first workers' strike led by the Communist Party of China after it was formally established.

The first national labor movement climax led by the Communist Party of China - the national labor movement climax from January 1922 to February 1923. Its starting point was the general strike of seamen in Hong Kong on January 12, 1922. More than 100,000 people participated in the strike and persisted in the struggle for 56 days, forcing the British authorities to accept the demands of the striking workers, and the strike struggle was won. This was a huge struggle directly against imperialism. The victory of this struggle became the starting point of the first upsurge of the national labor movement led by the Communist Party of China and greatly promoted the development of the national labor movement. Since then, the crew of the Changjiang River, Shanghai Postal Service Workers, Rihua Mill Workers, Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant Workers, and Jinghan, Jingfeng, Yuehan, Jingsui, Anyuan Road and Mining Railway Workers have held strikes and most of them have won. In February 1923, a general strike on the Beijing-Hanzhou Railway broke out, bringing China's first labor movement to its peak. But the strike failed under the bloody suppression of the imperialists and the Beiyang warlord Wu Peiyu. The first climax of the labor movement lasted 13 months. More than 100 trade unions were established in various places, and more than 100 strikes broke out in total. This demonstrated the strength of the Chinese working class and dealt a heavy blow to enemies at home and abroad.

The climax of the first female workers' strike led by the Communist Party of China. In the climax of the first workers' strike struggle in the history of our country, the strike of female workers was also very high. In 1922, women workers in Shanghai, Hubei, and Guangdong alone went on strike in more than 60 factories. More than 30,000 women workers participated in the strike, and they went on strike 18 times. Among them, the largest and most influential one was the union strike of women workers in 44 silk factories in Shanghai. More than 20,000 women workers participated in the strike. The strike lasted for a full month. Later, because the reactionary authorities arrested six female workers leaders, the strike failed temporarily.

The largest and longest labor strike struggle led by the Communist Party of China-the provincial and Hong Kong strikes, and the political strikes held by workers in Guangzhou and Hong Kong to support the May 30th Movement and oppose imperialism. On June 19, 1925, under the leadership of communists Deng Zhongxia, Chen Yannian and Su Zhaozheng, Hong Kong workers started a general strike to support the anti-imperialist struggle of the Shanghai people. The number of strikers reached 250,000, and more than 100,000 workers left Hong Kong to return to Guangzhou. Workers in the Shamian Concession in Guangzhou also participated in the general strike. On the 23rd, 100,000 workers, peasants, and students held a demonstration in Guangzhou. When the procession passed by Shaji on the other side of the Shamian Concession, they were shot by British, French and other imperialist troops. More than 50 people were killed and more than 170 were injured. , resulting in the "Shaki tragedy". In order to strengthen the leadership of the strike, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions held the Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shamian trade union congresses in Guangzhou, established the "Provincial and Hong Kong Strike Committee", and formed an armed picket team of more than 2,000 workers to station in Haikou. Strictly blockade Hong Kong. Cut off traffic and make it a dead port. With the support of the people of the whole country, the strike persisted until the end of October 1926. It lasted for 16 months. It dealt a heavy blow to imperialism and played a huge role in consolidating the Guangdong revolutionary base and preparing for the Northern Expedition.

The earliest head office established by the Communist Party of China to openly lead the labor movement was the Secretariat of the Chinese Labor Organization. In order to carry out the labor movement with all its strength, the Communist Party of China established the Secretariat of the Chinese Labor Organization in Shanghai shortly after the closing of the First National Congress, in mid-August 1921, with Zhang Guotao as the director, and published the official newspaper "Labour Weekly". In 1922, the secretariat moved from Shanghai to Beijing, with Deng Zhongxia as the director. At the same time, branches were established in Wuhan, Hunan, Guangdong, Jinan and other places. The director of the Wuhan branch is Lin Yunan, the director of the Hunan branch is Mao Zedong, the director of the Guangdong branch is Feng Jupo, and the director of the Jinan branch is Wang Jinmei. The China Labor Organization Secretariat is the predecessor of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

After the founding of New China, in December 1949, the Central People's Government designated May 1 of each year as the statutory Labor Day. On May 1, 1950, the Chinese people ushered in and celebrated the first Labor Day after the founding of New China. Since the founding of New China, tens of thousands of labor models have emerged in different periods, and they are outstanding representatives of the majority of laborers. After 1989, the State Council commended the national model workers and advanced workers basically every five years, with about 3,000 people commended each time. With their own practical actions, they have created a great model worker spirit of "devotion to work, striving to be first-class, hard work, courageous innovation, indifferent to fame and fortune, and willingness to contribute", which has enriched the precious spiritual wealth of our nation and become the embodiment of the great national spirit. An important part of. In September 1999, the State Council reformed and promulgated a new statutory holiday system. Every year, the National Day, Spring Festival and "May 1st" statutory holidays plus adjustments, the country has 7 days off. Since then, the boom in tourism and consumption triggered by the three "Golden Weeks" has become a new bright spot in my country's economic life, and the holiday economy has become a new topic that people talk about. Since November 9, 2007, a national statutory holiday adjustment plan has been introduced after various researches and comparisons, and the "May Day" has been adjusted from 7 days to 3 days. The May Day Golden Week has also become history.

The significance of "May 1st" International Labor Day

The Chinese nation has always been proud of labor. It is a nation that advocates labor, is hard-working, industrious and brave. The Mohists oppose getting something for nothing and advocate self-reliance. According to legend, in ancient times, Shennong "taught the people how to farm" and taught the people how to farm. "Historical Records" has a record of "Shun Geng Lishan", which praises the noble character of ancient sages who set an example and worked diligently. Dayu spent a total of 13 years away from home to control the floods.

Li Dazhao once said, I think there is no way to find happiness in life than to respect labor. After the founding of New China, legal and institutional protections were given to the rights and interests of laborers. Labor creates the world, labor is glorious, and labor is sacred. Without the spirit of hard work and bravery, there would be no rich and colorful material civilization and brilliant spiritual civilization of the Chinese nation. Since the founding of New China, countless laborers from all walks of life have worked hard to achieve the prosperity of the motherland's economy today.

The significance of the "May 1st" International Labor Day lies in the fact that the majority of laborers headed by the working class have fought for their own legitimate rights and interests with sweat and blood through indomitable, heroic and tenacious struggles. This is the historic progress of human civilization and democracy. It is the essence of Labor Day.

千万不要忘记“五一”国际劳动节的“初心”

“五一”国际劳动节的由来

每年的5月1日，全世界的劳动人民都会庆祝属于自己的节日——“五一”国际劳动节。然而这个属于全世界劳动者的节日，却是百余年前美国芝加哥的工人们用生命的代价换来的。他们不畏强权，为了工人利益奔走呼号的身影也定格成了历史的永恒。

“五一”国际劳动节其实是个战斗的纪念日。19世纪80年代是美国工人运动史上的转折时期。当时，美国资本主义经济正高速发展，美国工人和许多国家的工人一样，工作繁重，工资很低，工时很长，一般为10小时，有的甚至长达12-15小时。极低的报酬，超长的工作时间，工人们的待遇并未随着资本主义的高速发展产生实质性的变化，工人们的不满情绪不断累积，最终导致了罢工活动的发生。马萨诸塞州一个鞋厂的监工说:“让一个身强力壮、体格健全的18岁的小伙子，在这里的任何一架机器旁边工作，我能够使他在22岁时就头发变成灰白。”沉重的阶级压迫激起了工人们的巨大愤怒。

1877年美国铁路工人罢工

1877年，发生了美国历史上第一次全国性大罢工。当时，美国工人阶级队伍不断扩大，组织迅速增加，工会会员人数剧增，非熟练工人和半熟练工人纷纷参加罢工。他们要求改善劳动与生活条件，甚至要求全面改变经济制度。当时，广大群众普遍要求缩短工时，提出实行八小时工作制的口号，并为此进行斗争。有的工人说:“我们要有一个由工人自己制定的法令，规定从某一日起每日实行八小时工作制。”19世纪80年代初争取八小时工作制的斗争主要限于立法活动。但1882年，时任美国总统切斯特·阿瑟宣称:“我不认为八小时工作制的法律是符合宪法的，而世界上没有任何力量能够使我实施一项不符合宪法的法律。”美国工人忍无可忍，走上街头，开始进行全国性的声势浩大的斗争。作为美国大资产阶级的代表，美国总统的这番话反映了当时的美国大资产阶级的态度。

1886年5月1日，美国1万多个单位的35万工人开始举行争取八小时工作制的罢工。芝加哥、纽约、波士顿、匹兹堡和华盛顿等城市的男工、女工，黑人和白种工人以及侨民，都投入到这场历史性的斗争中来。当时在罢工工人中流行着一首《八小时之歌》，歌中唱道：

我们要把世界变个样，

我们厌倦了白白的辛劳，

光得到仅能糊口的工饷，

从没有时间让我们去思考。

我们要晒晒太阳，

我们要闻闻花香，

我们相信：

上帝只允许八小时工作日。

我们从船坞、车间和工场，

召集了我们的队伍，争取：

八小时工作，

八小时休息，

八小时归自己！

芝加哥工人罢工遭遇镇压

激昂的歌声唱出了工人的心声，唱出了全世界无产者的共同愿望，也感染了广大的群众，他们纷纷声援工人的罢工运动，将罢工运动推向新的高潮。罢工运动所表现的巨大力量使政府当局和资本家极为恐慌，他们不甘心答应工人的条件，便露出他们狰狞的一面。芝加哥是争取八小时工作制斗争最激烈的城市。这里的“五一”罢工显示出了工人阶级强大的力量，获得了巨大的成功，有4万工人参加了“五一”罢工，参加示威游行的工人超过了8万人，他们的领导人多为无政府主义者。当时一家芝加哥报纸写道：“芝加哥市铁路交通陷于停顿，所有仓库都关门并贴上封条，芝加哥大部分工业处于瘫痪状态，工厂和制造场高大的烟囱上看不到缕缕青烟。”

美国工人阶级在5月1日所表现的巨大力量使政府当局和资本家胆战心惊，大资本家和美国政府对这次活动愈来愈表现出的革命性感到恐惧，当地商界首脑要求增加警察和军队的数量。芝加哥商业俱乐部购买了大量的枪支用于警戒对付这次罢工。5月3日，芝加哥政府当局终于撕下了“民主”的假面具，用暴力镇压工人。他们组织罢工破坏者，在警察的保护下混进工人的罢工队伍，破坏芝加哥麦考米克收割机制造厂的罢工，故意制造混乱，以此为借口，当场开枪打死6个工人。这一暴行，激起了全市工人的极大愤慨，他们决心为死难的工人兄弟们报仇！罢工工人坚决抗议，但遭到屠杀，死伤多人。罢工工人决定于次日，即5月4日，在市广场举行群众大会，来抗议警察的暴行。由此可见，在资本主义国家，在工人阶级的活动触犯到大资产阶级的利益时，他们对工人阶级的镇压是毫不留情的。

5月4日，芝加哥工人群众在市广场集会，参加者发表演说谴责警察的暴行，会场上秩序井然。当会议临近尾声时，一队全副武装的警察开进会场，用武力驱散群众。这时，会场上有人向警察扔了一枚炸弹，当场死亡或重伤致死的警察共6人。警察立即向群众开枪，不少工人中弹而死，受伤者200多人。由于无法断定是谁扔的炸弹，这个事件成了攻击劳动节游行活动的把柄。（实际上有记者曾经揭露，是一个资本家为了激化警察和工人的矛盾，雇凶扔的炸弹。但这一报道并未得到重视。）警察查抄怀疑对象的家和办公室，有数百人在未指控下被逮捕，尤其是那些此次活动的领导者被袭击，8名芝加哥活动的积极倡导者被指控涉嫌广场炸弹事件和企图谋反，法庭在证据不足的情况下开庭审判。美国警察曾用了6个星期的时间都未能捕到的工运领导人之一——派生斯，在开庭这一天，他突然来到法庭，并公然宣布:“法官阁下，我是来和我的同伴们一起出庭受审的。”

这些工人阶级领袖在法庭上进行斗争。斯庇斯慷慨激昂地发表演说:“我以一个阶级的代表的身份对另一个阶级的代表说话，如果你们以为用绞死我们的办法，就能够摧毁劳工运动，摧毁那些被蹂躏的在贫困和悲惨中从事劳动的、期待通过它获得解放的千百万人，那么就绞死我们吧！你们可以在这里踩熄一个火花，但是，正是在那里，在你们的后面和前面到处会燃起火焰。这是来自地狱的烈火，你们是不能把它扑灭的。”

审讯结果，判处7人死刑。1887年11月1日，派生斯、斯庇斯、费煦和恩格尔4人被处死；费尔登和许瓦布原判死刑后改为无期徒刑；林登自杀；奈比被判15年徒刑。

美国大资产阶级和政府对工人的暴行引起了美国和全世界工人阶级的强烈抗议。马克思的女儿爱琳娜·马克思·爱威林和她的丈夫号召英国工人“以举行集会和通过决议的方法来支持美国兄弟”。英国工人曾多次举行集会，对谋杀劳工领袖的行为提出抗议。

美国工人在斗争中提出的八小时工作制，反映了当时资本主义各国工人的具体要求，从而被欧美无产阶级迅速接受，并为国际工人运动所重视。1889年，在巴黎召开各国社会主义者代表大会，成立了第二国际。在这次代表大会上，法国代表拉文建议，将每年5月1日作为全世界无产者的节日，以纪念芝加哥工人的革命斗争。大会接受了他的建议，通过了关于“五一”国际劳动节的决议，指出：“在一个作为永久规定的日子里，组织国际性的大规模示威游行，以便各国和一切城市的工人都在同一天里要求当局规定八小时工作制，并实现巴黎国际代表大会的其他决议。”

1890年5月1日，法国、德国、美国、奥匈、比利时、意大利、西班牙、丹麦、挪威和瑞典等国工人都举行了示威游行；英国工人于5月4日(星期日)举行示威游行。各国工人一致提出八小时工作制等要求。恩格斯对这次活动给予了充分的肯定，他在记述1890年的“五一”国际劳动节时写道:“今天的情景定会使全世界的资本家和地主知道，全世界的无产者现在已经真正联合起来了。”

“五一”国际劳动节与中国共产党和工人阶级

中国人民庆祝劳动节的活动可追溯至1908年，中国工人阶级第一次纪念“五一”国际劳动节是1908年5月1日，中国东北哈尔滨的工人同俄国工人一起举行五一罢工，并在松花江岸召集万人大会，纪念“五一”国际劳动节。但这次工人罢工以俄国工人为助力，发生在边远的东北，缺少内地工人的响应，因此并不广为人所熟知。

1918年，一些革命的知识分子在上海、苏州、杭州、汉口等地向群众散发介绍“五一”的传单。五四运动后，马克思主义在中国广泛传播，具有初步共产主义思想的知识分子深入工人群众，到1920年五一节已明显出现马克思主义与工人运动相结合的趋势。

中国工人阶级首次大规模纪念“五一”国际劳动节是在1920年5月1日。这一天，北京、上海、广州、九江、唐山等各工业城市的工人群众浩浩荡荡地走向街市，举行了声势浩大的游行、集会。

李大钊专门在《新青年》上发表了《“五一”运动史》，介绍“五一”节的来历和美法等国工人纪念“五一”的活动，号召中国工人把这年的“五一”作为觉醒的日期。陈独秀也为庆祝这个节日发表了《上海厚生纱厂湖南女工问题》一文，揭露资本家剥削工人剩余价值的真相。陈独秀又在上海船务栈房工界联合会做了《劳苦者的觉悟》的演说，阐明了“劳动创造世界”、“做工的人最有用、最贵重”的观点。当天各地工人和知识分子共同集会。在上海，在陈独秀指导下5000多名工人召开了由中华全国工界协进会等7个团体联合筹备的世界劳动纪念大会，陈独秀当选筹备大会顾问。纪念会上，各界代表发表演说，工人提出8小时工作、8小时休息、8小时教育的“三八制”要求，并高呼“劳工万岁”、“中华工界万岁”等口号。会后，发表了上海工人宣言和答俄国劳农政府的通告。

《新青年》还专门出版了纪念专号，并刊登了李大钊的《“五一”运动史》、陈独秀的《劳动者的觉悟》、《上海厚生纱厂湖南女工问题》等重要文章，以及上海、北京、天津、武汉等10多个城市和地区工人现状的调查报告。在北京，李大钊领导了以北京大学为中心的纪念活动。北京大学学生在这一天罢课，《北京大学学生周刊》出版了“劳动纪念号”。学校内召开了500多名校工和学生参加的纪念大会，李大钊到会讲话。何孟雄等8名北大学生和一些青年外出宣传，散发《五月一日北京劳工宣言》，唤起工人为反对剥削、争取自身权利而斗争，被巡警拘捕。邓中夏到北京长辛店，向铁路工人散发《五月一日北京劳工宣言》并发表讲演。这就是中国全国的工人阶级首次纪念“五一”国际劳动节的活动，也是中国历史上的第一个“五一”劳动节。

1921年“五一”前夕，在北京的共产主义小组成员邓中夏等人创办的长辛店劳动补习学校里，工人们学唱《五一纪念歌》。其歌词是:

美哉自由，

世界明星，

拼吾热血，

为他牺牲，

要把强权制度一切扫除净，

记取五月一日之良辰。

红旗飞舞，

走光明路，

各尽所能，

各取所需，

不分贫富贵贱，

责任唯互助，愿大家努力齐进取。

这首雄壮有力的歌，是由长辛店劳动实习学校的教员和北京大学的进步学生共同创编而成的。

1920年北京大学纪念“五一”国际劳动节大会会场

1921年7月20日至8月12日，上海英美烟厂新老两厂的工人举行罢工，参加罢工的工人人数达8000余人。中国共产党参与领导了这次罢工，取得初步的胜利。这也是中国共产党正式成立以后，领导的第一次工人大罢工。

中国共产党领导的第一次全国工人运动高潮——1922年1月至1923年2月的全国工人运动高潮。其起点是1922年1月12日香港海员大罢工，参加罢工的人数达10万余人，坚持斗争达56天，迫使英国当局接受了罢工工人的要求，罢工斗争获得了胜利。这是一次规模巨大的直接针对帝国主义的斗争，这一斗争的胜利成为中国共产党领导的全国第一次工人运动高潮的起点，对全国工人运动的发展起了极大的推动作用。此后，长江船员、上海邮务工人、日华纱厂工人、汉阳钢铁厂工人和京汉、京奉、粤汉、京绥、安源路矿等铁路工人相继举行罢工大多数都取得胜利。1923年2月爆发京汉铁路大罢工，使中国第一次工人运动高潮达到顶点。但是这次罢工在帝国主义和北洋军阀吴佩俘的血腥镇压下失败了。第一次工运高潮历时13个月，各地先后建立了100多个工会，共爆发了100多次罢工，显示了中国工人阶级的强大力量，给国内外敌人以沉重打击。

中国共产党领导的第一次女工罢工高潮。我国历史上出现的第一次工人罢工斗争高潮中，女工的罢工也非常高涨。1922年仅上海、湖北、广东3个地方女工掀起罢工斗争的就有60多个厂，参加罢工的女工有3万多人，先后罢工18次。其中规模最大、影响最广泛的是上海44家丝厂女工的同盟罢工，参加罢工的女工有2万余人。这次罢工持续了整整1个月。后因反动当局逮捕了6名女工领袖，罢工暂归失败。

中国共产党领导的一次规模最大、时间最长的工人罢工斗争——省港大罢工，广州、香港工人为支援五卅运动、反对帝国主义而举行的政治大罢工。1925年6月19日香港工人在共产党人邓中夏、陈延年、苏兆征等领导下，开始了支援上海人民反帝斗争的大罢工。罢工人数达25万，并有10余万工人离开香港回广州。广州沙面租界的工人也参加了大罢工。23日工人、农民、学生等10万人在广州举行游行示威，当队伍路经沙面租界对岸的沙基时，遭英、法等帝国主义军队开枪射击，群众死50余人，伤170余人，造成“沙基惨案”。中华全国总工会为加强对罢工的领导，在广州召开香港、广州、沙面各工会代表大会，建立了“省港罢工委员会”，并组成2000多人的工人武装纠察队，到各海口驻防，严密封锁香港。断绝交通，使之成为死港。在全国人民的支援下，罢工坚持到1926年10月结束，历时16个月，沉重打击了帝国主义，对巩固广东革命根据地和准备北伐战争起了巨大作用。

中国共产党最早成立的公开领导工人运动的总机关是中国劳动组合书记部。中国共产党为了全力开展工人运动，“一大”闭幕不久，即1921年8月中旬，在上海成立了中国劳动组合书记部，由张国焘任主任，并出版了机关报《劳动周刊》。1922年，书记部由上海迁到北京，改由邓中夏任主任。同时，在武汉、湖南广东、济南等地设立分部，武汉分部主任为林育南，湖南分部主任为毛泽东，广东分部主任为冯菊坡，济南分部主任为王尽美。中国劳动组合书记部是中华全国总工会的前身。

新中国成立后，在1949年12月，中央人民政府将每年的5月1日规定为法定劳动节。1950年5月1日中国人民迎来并庆祝了新中国成立后的第一个劳动节。新中国成立以来，在不同时期涌现出千千万万劳动模范，他们是广大劳动者的杰出代表。1989年后，国务院基本上每5年表彰一次全国劳动模范和先进工作者，每次表彰3000人左右。他们以自己的实际行动，铸就了“爱岗敬业、争创一流、艰苦奋斗、勇干创新、淡泊名利、甘于奉献”的伟大劳模精神，丰富了我们民族宝贵的精神财富，成为伟大民族精神的重要组成部分。1999年9月，国务院改革出台新的法定休假制度，每年国庆节、春节和“五一”法定节日加上调休，全国放假7天。从此，3个“黄金周”掀起的旅游消费热成为我国经济生活的新亮点，假日经济成为人们津津乐道的新话题。从2007年11月9日开始，出台了经过多方研究论证比较的国家法定节假日调整方案，“五一”由7天调整为3天。五一黄金周也成为历史。

“五一”国际劳动节的意义

中华民族历来以劳动为荣，是一个崇尚劳动、刻苦耐劳、勤劳勇敢的民族。墨家就反对不劳而获，主张自食其力。相传在远古时代，神农氏就“教民农作”，教给人民耕作方法。《史记》中有“舜耕历山”的记载，颂扬了古圣贤以身作则、勤于劳作的高尚品德。大禹治水在外一共13年，三过家门而不入，体现了勤勉奉公、刻苦耐劳的精神。

李大钊曾说，我认为人生求乐的方法，莫过于尊重劳动。新中国成立后，对于劳动者的权益给予法律和制度上的保护保障。劳动创造世界，劳动光荣，劳动神圣。没有勤劳勇敢的精神，就没有中华民族的丰富多彩的物质文明与光辉灿烂的精神文明的产生。新中国成立以来，无数各行各业劳动者艰辛的付出，才有了今天祖国经济的繁荣富强。

“五一”国际劳动节的意义在于以工人阶级为首的广大劳动者通过不屈不挠、英勇顽强的斗争，用汗水和鲜血给自己争取到的合法权益，是人类文明、民主的历史性进步，这才是五一劳动节的精髓所在。