About National Labour Day in the Capital Territory, and provinces of New South Wales, South Australia

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Labour Day in Australia is a National Holiday. Still, it is a bit complicated as each territory has its day to celebrate, which can occur in March, May, and October.

Labour Day represents the international celebration of organized labor and was conceived first in North America. A conference of American and Canadian unions in 1884 declared May 1, 1886, 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, and six workers were gunned down. In subsequent protests, another 11 workers were killed. A further seven workers were arrested, four hanged, and a fifth killed himself to cheat the noose. Two others received life sentences.

In Australia, the "Sydney Morning Herald" reported in 1890 that in Vienna, the wealthy business owners and elites were so unnerved by worker support for May Day that they placed their valuables in banks' custody.

Two years earlier, Australian workers rallied to the cause of British dockworkers 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 labor. The Shearers truck and the Queensland government sent police and armed troops to arrest strikers and put them in goal.

The call for an International May Day was only partly heeded due to ideological splits in the trade union movement. May Day has gathered in strength in Australia and is now part of the worldwide celebration.

However, Australia's territories also maintain their state-supported Labour Day.