by Dr. Arcelita Imasa
What is the history of May Day? Why is it celebrated as a workers’ holiday in many countries around the world?
–Reader
Dear Reader,
Thank you for this very timely question. May 1st, “MAY DAY,” or “International Workers’ Day,” is a holiday honoring workers celebrated in many countries around the world.
It is often commemorated with a march of workers and unions in many cities. Hawaii workers also participated in May Day marches and commemorations in the 1940s and 1950s.
May Day was first proclaimed as International Workers Day in 1890, in commemoration of the struggle of American workers for the 8-hour workday.
In Chicago’s Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886, thousands of striking workers held a rally for an 8-hour workday and better working conditions.
The police attacked the workers, and, in the chaos, four workers and seven police officers were killed.
Four labor leaders were arrested, unfairly tried, and hanged – and they became martyrs for the cause of workers, and May 1 came to be celebrated around the world as a workers’ holiday.In 1894, the U.S. government established the first Monday in September as “Labor Day”, a national holiday, and the day was usually celebrated with picnics.
In Hawaii, May 1 became Lei Day and, on the continent, Law Day, possibly to lessen the day’s global significance as a workers’ day.
A few local unions in Hawai’i have continued to celebrate May Day as the workers’ day in commemoration of the historic struggles waged by workers.
This May 1, 2024 also marks the fourth anniversary of the formation of the Hawaii Workers Center (HWC) and the beginning of the HWC’s annual May Day march and rally.
This year, we gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 1 at 10:00 AM to march, rally and hold elected officials accountable for their lack of action in supporting our working families. More details can be found at www.hawaiiworkerscenter.org.
In Hawai’i and on the continent, workers have often been attacked by the ruling elites. Forming a union was punished as sedition, strikes were outlawed, and labor leaders were jailed.
In Hawai’i, after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and the imposition of a white supremacist government supportive of the plantation owners and merchants, the owners were free to establish harsh conditions for workers—10- to 12-hour workdays, 6 days a week, very low pay, and fines or imprisonment for workers trying to leave plantations.
At this point, we would like to share more about historic worker’s strikes that lead to the formation of some of Hawai’i’s first unions and labor laws.
When workers challenged their bosses, they were often attacked. Native Hawaiian workers at Kauai’s Koloa Plantation went out on the first recorded strike in 1841.
They wanted to raise their daily pay from 12-1/2 cents to 25 cents. The employers denied any raise and defeated their strike. But the desire for justice was not defeated.
To try to divide and weaken workers, the sugar and pineapple plantation owners imported other nationalities and had workers living in dilapidated shacks in separate ethnic camps—Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, and Filipino.
The owners’ hope was that if workers were divided by ethnic group, they could not be a threat. Some major strikes nevertheless took place.
The 1909 Japanese Strike started in Aiea on May 9, 1909, and spread throughout Oahu, with about 9,000 workers involved. The workers sought to increase their pay. Evictions and arrests of union leaders occurred, and the strike was defeated.
At the Great Strike of 1920, Japanese and Filipino workers united in a 6-month strike for decent pay and work conditions. Over 12,000 went on strike. Newspapers attacked the strikers saying they were trying to “Japanize” Hawaii.
Filipinos were also attacked, especially their leader Pablo Manlapit. The workers were evicted from plantation housing, and many were forced to live in make-shift camps at Aala Park in Honolulu during a global pandemic. But their sacrifice was not in vain.
At the 1924 Filipino Strike, more than 12,000 workers struck at 24 plantations. They raised the demand of higher wages and equal pay for women and men. Wages were $1 a day for 10 hours of work, 6 days a week. The striking workers, led by Manlapit sought to raise daily wages to $3 a day.
The Hanapepe Massacre occurred on Kauai when planters called in militia who used machine guns against the strikers, killing 16. The strike was defeated but set the groundwork, in the 1940s, for successful strikes and the formation of the International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU).
Major victories were achieved on the docks and plantations. Harry Kamoku, a Hilo resident, of Native Hawaiian and Chinese descent was one of those Longshoremen took up the job of organizing to achieve recognition of their union, improved conditions, and greater security through a written contract.
Key to their success was building a labor movement based on family, community, and multi-ethnic solidarity.
More recently we have seen successful organizing and strikes by United HERE! Local 5, the Hawai’i Nurses Association, the National Union of Health Care Workers along with ILWU and others. Nationwide, there is growing support for unions as working people demand a better life.
We owe these courageous workers a debt of gratitude. That is why we celebrate May Day!
Happy May Day to all our Hawai’i workers! Solidarity Forever!
Sincerely,
Hawaii Workers Center
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