May Day 2023

[dewline]

This is what Labour Day was created to distract us from in Anglophone "North America", right?

As of this year's edition, I'm still looking for steadier work, better work, honest or at least honourable work. My most recent contract was fun, good, mentally healthier, better-paying than I'd had before. Too bad it was only two months.

Pleased to see the tentative agreement between Treasury Board of Canada and four bargaining groups represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Hoping it goes better for the Union of Taxation Employees and soon.

Comments

[mellowtigger]

I think? this day has a long history of making the powerful wish we would just get back to work and think about things related to our labor productivity. Even in the USA.

[dewline]

And so Puritanism became fascist before we knew fascism by that more modern name, and genocidal in the process, too, I see. Horrific.

[mellowtigger]

Yep. :(

[cynthia1960]

Solidarity!

[sabotabby]

As a lifelong pedant and labour nerd I must point out that the September Labour Day (1872) predates May Day (1886) as Labour Day:

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/labour-day

That said May Day is clearly a better one.

[dewline]

I sit down, duly and gratefully corrected.

[blogcutter]

Yes, Labour Day certainly has some interesting historical background. It seems the first Australian Labour Days were even earlier in origin, dating to the winning of a standard 8-hour day around 1856:

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/labour-day

But you'll note it's all over the map in terms of what month it's in, even within Australia! And in New Zealand, it's in October. Mind you, their spring and fall are the reverse of ours, so maybe it's all down to when people feel they most need a holiday!

[sabotabby]

They should all be holidays.