Labour Day, also known as Eight Hours Day in Tasmania and May Day in the
Northern Territory, commemorates the granting of the eight-hour working
day for Australians. It also recognizes workers’ contributions towards
the nation’s economy. It is an annual public holiday and its date varies
across the states and territories.
What do people do
Many people use the Labour Day holiday as part of a long weekend
where they can relax, spend time with friends or family members, play or
watch sport, have barbecues. Some people plan a getaway trip to a
coastal region, the mountains or the countryside where they can engage
in various activities such as picnics, wine-tasting at a winery,
bush-walking, or camping.
Throughout the nation, Labour Day is an occasion for unions,
community groups and the general public to join in celebration. In
Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane there are marches are held on or
around Labour Day. They are often led by the state’s key political
leaders and influential key figures. Union members often take part in
these marches.
Public life
Labour Day is a public holiday in all states and territories in
Australia. It is observed in Western Australia on the first Monday in
March and on the second Monday in March in Victoria and Tasmania. It is
celebrated in the Northern Territory and Queensland on the first Monday
in May. It is held on the first Monday of October in the Australian
Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia.
During this holiday government offices are closed, as are post
offices, schools and many businesses. Those planning on using public
transport on this holiday need to check with the local transport
authorities prior to travelling.
Background
The history of Labour Day in Australia spans over a century. It is an
important annual event that remembers those who struggled and succeeded
to ensure decent and fair working conditions in Australia. During the
mid to late 1800s the working day was long and arduous, where some
employees would work up to 12 hours a day, six days a week.
Many Australians saw the need for better working conditions and in
the 1850s there was a strong push for this. On April 21, 1856,
stonemasons at the University of Melbourne marched to Parliament House
to push for an eight-hour working day. An agreement with employers for a
48-hour week was eventually reached and Australian workers welcomed the
new eight-hour day. A victory march was held on May 12 that year and
each year after that. In 1856 the new work regulations were recognized
in New South Wales, followed by Queensland in 1858 and South Australia
in 1873.
In 1874, Tasmania joined the other states in adopting the shorter
eight-hour working day. In 1879 the Victorian Government made one
further step towards better conditions for employees by proclaiming a
paid public holiday that year. In light of the labour movement’s
successful push for an eight-hour day, a large May Day meeting was held
in Melbourne in 1890. On May 1 that year a local newspaper made
reference to that day as May Day.
One of the first May Day/Labour Day marches in Australia occurred on
May 1, 1891 in Queensland. More than 1000 people participated in the
march and carried banners. The leaders wore blue sashes and the Eureka
flag was carried. It was reported that cheers were given for “the
eight-hour day”. The Labour Day date was moved from May to the second
Monday in March in some parts of Australia after World War II. Since
1948, Labour Day in Western Australia has been observed on the first
Monday in March. It marks the granting of the eight hour working day to
Western Australians.
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