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Labour Day is an Australian national holiday, but when it occurs is a bit complicated. Each territory designates its own day to celebrate this holiday. This is the day Queensland and the Northern Territory mark it.
The day is an international celebration of organized labour, which began with protests in North America during the late 19th Century.
A conference of American and Canadian unions set May 1, 1886 as a day of action in support of an 8-hour day. In Chicago, a crowd of 80,000 workers were attacked by the police, who gunned down 6 workers. During a subsequent protest demonstration, 11 more workers were killed. Another 7 workers were arrested of whom 4 were hanged; a 5th killed himself as not to be hung and 2 others were imprisoned for life.
Two years later, Australian workers rallied in support British dockworkers during the ‘Dockers Strike’ of 1888. Of $48,000 contributed from overseas, more than $30,000 was sent by Australia workers.
In 1891, Queensland those determined to break the Shearers Union employed non-union scabs to take their place. Business owners and the Queensland government sent in police and armed troops to arrest strikers and put them in jail.
Eventually International May Day was established to recognize labour everywhere, though it 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 worldwide celebrations.
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