On this day in history - The 8-hour workday was established.

By Tania Dooley

     On this day in history, May 1, 1886 the 8-hour workday was established after union workers went on strike protesting long work days and horrible working conditions. 

Modern industrial town picture
by Ralf Vetterle
Via Pixabay

According to the University of Maryland, before this time, it was common for workers to have a "sun up to sun down" schedule which could mean 10-12 hours or more a day.  According to PBS.org a popular union slogan at the time was, "Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what you will."   

Union workers included
metal forgers, welders, carpenters, cobblers,
machinists, and other factory workers.
Picture by Sabine Shulte
Via Pixabay

Unions won their fight on May 1st, and on May 19, 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant established the 8-hour workday through an official proclamation (Miller Center.org, 2020). 






References
Miller Center.org (2020). May 19, 1969: Proclamation establishing eight-hour workday. Retrieved from https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/may-19-1869-proclamation-establishing-eight-hour-workday
PBS.org (2020). How the weekend was won. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/livelyhood/workday/weekend/8hourday.html
University of Maryland Online Library. (2020). The eight hour day. Retrieved from https://www.lib.umd.edu/unions/labor/eight-hour-day