Macedonia marks Sunday May 1, the International Workers' Day, commemorating the historic struggle of workers throughout the world for enhancement of their rights.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia resumes the practice of campaigning over certain areas in the field of workers' rights protection. This year's campaign is dedicated to the campaign on organizing and mobilizing new members.
The campaign will be focused on membership in trade unions of unorganized workers, giving institutional opportunity to achieve collective protection and ensuring social justice, social inclusion, solidarity and collective labor right.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia this year will also request inclusion in all processes that lead to the promotion of social dialogue, better jobs, implementing industrial democracy, participation in economic governance, promotion of the process of collective negotiation and bargaining, providing conditions for healthy and safe workplaces, reliable and increased wages, economic and gender equality and ensuring enhanced social rights and standards for all workers.
May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries.
International Workers' Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, which occurred after an unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at police as they dispersed a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday. In response, the Chicago police fired on the workers killing dozens of demonstrators and several of their own officers.
In 1889, the first congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, following a proposal by Raymond Lavigne, called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests. May Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International's second congress in 1891.