Labor Day and International Women’s Day: Origins and Evolution
Article 14.- All the inhabitants of the Nation enjoy the following rights under the laws that regulate their exercise: to work and perform any lawful industry; to navigate and trade; to petition the authorities; to enter, remain in, travel through, and leave Argentine territory; to publish their ideas through the press without prior censorship; to use and dispose of their property; to associate for useful purposes; to profess their religion freely; and to teach and learn.
Article 14 bis.- Work in its various forms shall enjoy the protection of the laws, which shall ensure to workers: dignified and equitable working conditions; limited working hours; paid rest and vacations; fair pay; a living mobile wage; equal pay for equal work; participation in the profits of enterprises, with control of production and collaboration in management; protection against arbitrary dismissal; stability of public employment; and free and democratic trade union organization, recognized by mere registration in a special register.
Unions are guaranteed the right to: engage in collective bargaining agreements; resort to conciliation and arbitration; and the right to strike. Union representatives shall have the necessary guarantees for the fulfillment of their union duties and those related to job stability.
The State shall grant social security benefits, which shall be comprehensive and indispensable. In particular, the laws shall establish: compulsory social insurance, which will be undertaken by national or provincial entities with financial and economic autonomy, administered by the interested parties with public participation, without overlapping contributions; retirement and pensions; comprehensive family protection; defense of the homestead; family allowances; and access to decent housing.
Labor Day
The history of Labor Day dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century when rapid industrial development greatly increased the concentration of workers. This led to abuses in workers’ wages, resulting in clashes, upheavals, and struggles between workers and employers.
Workers formed unions to defend their rights and achieve better working conditions. In November 1884, the Fourth Congress of the American Federation of Labor was held in Chicago.
This Congress proposed that, from May 1, 1886, employers in the United States should respect the eight-hour workday. Otherwise, workers would strike and rally.
In 1886, U.S. President Andrew Johnson enacted the Ingersoll Eight-Hour Law, a victory achieved through the work of Ira Steward, a worker dedicated to mechanics.
The Act was initially not enforced, leading social and union organizations to fight for its compliance.
“As of today, only eight hours a day, not one more,” was the rallying cry of workers who went on strike on May 1, 1886.
More than 350,000 organized workers paralyzed the country with strikes in cities like New York, Cincinnati, and Detroit, achieving positive results for the working class.
In 1890, fifteen nations met in Berlin to discuss state intervention in work-related matters. This led to the idea of creating an international body to ensure labor rights and duties, as well as provide information and advice.
Women’s History Day
What is the origin of March 8th? As we know, this day is celebrated as Women’s Day, a time to assert women’s rights more strongly than ever. Women’s Day has been celebrated since the early twentieth century, but there is some controversy about its origins, which this article aims to clarify with the help of research, seeking a better understanding of our history as free women.
History of Working Women
The movement for women’s rights did not emerge in the twentieth century, as many think, but has a much earlier documented history. However, major achievements were made in the twentieth century, thanks to the sacrifice and struggle of many women who refused to comply.
It is important to note that March 8th was established as International Working Women’s Day after similar events, including a Women’s Day held in the U.S. on February 28, 1909, which continued until 1913 but remained primarily national in character.
The first International Women’s Day took place on March 19, 1911, in several European countries. More than one million women participated, demanding:
- The right to vote
- The right to hold public office
- The right to vocational training
- The right to work and freedom from discrimination based on gender
While this is well-established, the exact trigger for this event is debated, with many erroneous versions circulating.
One version claims that on March 8, 1857, in New York, women workers protested for better working conditions, after which the factory owner locked them in and set the factory on fire, killing 129 women. This myth suggests that International Women’s Day commemorates this event, but there is no reliable evidence to support it. Another theory claims the fire occurred on March 8, 1908, but that date was a Sunday, making a strike unlikely, and there is no evidence to support this either. Finally, some suggest the origin was a textile workers’ demonstration in New York, but this claim also lacks credible evidence.
Serious research indicates that in Copenhagen, in 1910, during the Second International Conference of Socialist Women, the establishment of International Working Women’s Day was unanimously approved as a method of struggle for women’s rights. This was due to a proposal by German socialist Clara Zetkin.
Regarding the fire: it did happen, but not in 1857 or 1908. It occurred on March 25, 1911, at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York, killing more than a hundred workers. It was referenced in subsequent annual meetings but was not the origin of International Women’s Day. Similarly, there was a textile workers’ demonstration, but it took place on September 27, 1909, and the strike lasted until February 15, 1910. It was not involved in establishing March 8th.
It seems that in the late 20th century, there was an attempt to dissociate this day from communism, which was associated with socialism at the time. This led to the development of several unsubstantiated stories.
Continuing the story of women’s struggle, following the successful first meeting, more countries joined the public protests. Russia did so in 1913, and the rest of Europe held rallies supporting women and opposing World War I in 1914, shortly after March 8th.
On March 8, 1917, in Russia, women rioted due to food shortages. This event marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution, leading to the fall of the Tsar and the establishment of a provisional government that granted women the right to vote. Due to the significance of this event, carried out by women, March 8th in the Gregorian calendar became permanently associated with International Working Women’s Day.
In 1920, the United States ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote.
Another important milestone was the United Nations’ support for women’s rights in 1945. In San Francisco, they signed a charter upholding the equality of both sexes as a fundamental right. The UN has since taken many measures to achieve this goal, including declaring 1975 as “International Women’s Year” and adopting numerous legislative and social initiatives. The UN also joined the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th.
In conclusion, the situation of women has evolved rapidly since that first million-strong meeting on March 19, 1911. However, a century later, some goals, such as non-discrimination of women at work, have not yet been fully achieved. Therefore, we must not relax or be complacent, especially on March 8th. This is our cause, and no government agency will defend it with more determination than ourselves. We can do this within our families, among friends, and at work, remembering that our path is easier now because others overcame many difficulties throughout history.