“Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what you will!”

In 1886, workers across North America, typically forced to work fourteen-hour days, struck and marched behind that banner. Chicago was the epicenter of this earthshaking movement. When they gathered in Haymarket Square, a bomb was tossed by an unknown assailant, but the workers and their leaders were blamed, arrested, and many were executed. To this day, Labor vehemently opposes terrorism, but is still tainted with the accusation of supporting it by spokespeople of corporate rulers. In much of the world today, the first day of May is celebrated as the country’s official Labour Day. Nurses should be especially proud today as we fight mandatory overtime and unbearable working conditions!