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The idea that workers should celebrate on the 1st of May was first raised at a Federated Trades and Labour Unions’ of Canada and the United States meeting in 1884.
The Congress decided that over the next 2 years, they would encourage their members to become involved in struggles for the 8-hour day that would culminate in widespread action on May 1, 1886.
This initial struggle culminated in The Haymarket Massacre in Chicago.
The American workers involved in the 1886 struggles sent delegates to an international Labour conference (the inaugural meeting of the Second International) that was held in Paris on July 14, 1889. The Congress decided to make May 1st ‘a day of international Labour demonstrations.’
Victorian workers held a May Day meeting as a result of this call in 1890.
Although Canada and the United States have avoided acknowledging May Day, and the spirit of rebellion that makes up its history (in North America, Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September), in 2004 — as a consequence of the regressive actions of the provincial Liberal government — the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Vancouver and District Labour Council has called for a march and rally this May 1st.
The May Day celebrations in Vancouver will feature a rally and a 90-minute concert with Shari Ulrich, Bill Henderson and Roy Forbes (UHF). The rally and concert, Voices for Justice, will start at 1:00 p.m. in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street. During the concert and rally, the B.C. Fed will collect donations in support of the struggle by B.C’s women’s centres to restore government funding. Organizers have asked participants to assemble in front of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (corner of Georgia and Hamilton Streets) at 11:00 a.m. to join a march to the concert.
