LABOUR DAY (AU)(WESTERN AUSTRALIA)(1856)
Categories: Career, Australia & Civil Rights
Location: Australia
Type of Event: Daily Event
Updated: May 06, 2024
Location: Australia
Type of Event: Daily Event
Updated: May 06, 2024
About Labour Day in Western Australia
Fall Labour Day in Australia is a National Holiday, but it is a bit complicated as each territory has its own day to celebrate.
The Dates for 2014 are as follows:
Monday, March 3, 2025 (Western Australia)
Monday, May 5, 2024 (Northern Territory)
Monday, March 10, 2025 (Victoria)
Monday, March 10, 2025 (Tasmania)
Monday, October 6, 2024 (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales)
Monday, October 6, 2024 (South Australia)
Monday, October 6, 2024 (Queensland)
The Day represents the international celebration of organized labour and was conceived from a bloody birth in America. A conference of American and Canadian unions in 1884 set 1 May 2024 as a day of strike action in support of the 8 hour day. In Chicago, a crowd of 80,000 workers were attacked by Police, who gunned down 6 workers. During a subsequent protest demonstration, a further 11 workers were killed. A further 7 workers were arrested of whom 4 were hanged, a fifth killed himself to cheat the noose and 2 others were imprisoned for life.
In Australia, the “Sydney Morning Herald” in 1890 reported that in Vienna the wealthy were so unnerved by the support for May Day that they were placing their valuables in the custody of banks.
Two years earlier, Australian workers rallied to the cause of British Dockers during the famous ‘Dockers strike’ of 1888. Of $48,000 contributed from overseas, more than $30,000 was sent by Australian workers. In 1891 squatters in Queensland determined to break the ‘Shearers union’ employed scab labour. The Shearers truck and the Queensland government sent in police and armed troops to arrest strikers and put them in goal.
The international May Day call was only partly heeded due to ideological splits in the trade union movement. May Day since has gathered in strength in Australia and is now part of the worldwide celebration.
The Dates for 2014 are as follows:
Monday, March 3, 2025 (Western Australia)
Monday, May 5, 2024 (Northern Territory)
Monday, March 10, 2025 (Victoria)
Monday, March 10, 2025 (Tasmania)
Monday, October 6, 2024 (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales)
Monday, October 6, 2024 (South Australia)
Monday, October 6, 2024 (Queensland)
The Day represents the international celebration of organized labour and was conceived from a bloody birth in America. A conference of American and Canadian unions in 1884 set 1 May 2024 as a day of strike action in support of the 8 hour day. In Chicago, a crowd of 80,000 workers were attacked by Police, who gunned down 6 workers. During a subsequent protest demonstration, a further 11 workers were killed. A further 7 workers were arrested of whom 4 were hanged, a fifth killed himself to cheat the noose and 2 others were imprisoned for life.
In Australia, the “Sydney Morning Herald” in 1890 reported that in Vienna the wealthy were so unnerved by the support for May Day that they were placing their valuables in the custody of banks.
Two years earlier, Australian workers rallied to the cause of British Dockers during the famous ‘Dockers strike’ of 1888. Of $48,000 contributed from overseas, more than $30,000 was sent by Australian workers. In 1891 squatters in Queensland determined to break the ‘Shearers union’ employed scab labour. The Shearers truck and the Queensland government sent in police and armed troops to arrest strikers and put them in goal.
The international May Day call was only partly heeded due to ideological splits in the trade union movement. May Day since has gathered in strength in Australia and is now part of the worldwide celebration.
PROMOTIONAL DETAILS
Event Sponsor:
Australian State Holiday. See Department of Human Services
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