Workers Day: the day of free men

May 01: May 1, has a special significance in socialist and communist regimes all over the world. This is the day to celebrate the achievements for labour organisations, trade unions, socialist veterans and comrades. During its hey days, when the fire of communism was spreading across the continents; uniting and integrating the working class who suffered from their exploitation by the bourgeoisie, May 1, was fixed to be observed as an evaluation and assessment day.

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It is the International Worker?s Day and there is no work, except to look into past and see how good it gets.

Today, it is the 121st anniversary of International Labour Day. Like other parts of the world, International Labour Day was observed in the country today. Labour Day is the celebrated in remembrance of the achievements of the International Labour Movement. This day denotes the social and economic achievements of the working class.

More than a century ago, when the feud between capitalists and communists was serious, this day used to announce the confrontations of the two opponents. Strikes and smaller revolts used to be the tools amply made use of by the working sections. In 1886, a mass movement came into existence after the famous Hey Market incident in Chicago.

On this day was announced the victory of socialists giving the working class their right to own, right to maintain a life of their choice.

Sometimes called as May Day, on this day workers drafted their own terms and conditions of employment. The daily eight working hours schedule was also declared and put into practice on this day. Before that workers were treated as a commodity by the capitalists and were continuously exploited for capital gains. Even after a century of sensitization and reforms the situation still prevails at many places in the world. The worker associations and trade unions however have organized themselves and now work for the development of the unprivileged.

Trade unions and association have become primary institutions and their demands cannot simply be put down. They are responsible in themselves as to be providing better working culture.

Unfortunately mal practices and exploitation continue to haunt the workers at many places in India. They live a wretched and miserable life and never dare to raise their voice.

This is the day when we should seek these dark corners and get rid of the evil. There should be a unanimous voice and it should come from those who work hard, day and night, but not for themselves. This is the day to shed all fears and celebrate with the fruits of our hard labour.