Chicago's Role in the Birth of 'May Day' and the Fight for an 8-Hour Workday
On May 1, 1867, Illinois enacted an eight-hour workday law, a significant milestone in labor history. However, the law's vague language led to differing interpretations between workers and employers, resulting in a failed general strike. This event set the stage for the labor movement in Chicago, culminating in the Haymarket Affair of 1886. During this period, tens of thousands of workers marched on Michigan Avenue, advocating for reduced work hours from the customary 10-12 hours to eight. The Haymarket Affair, which occurred three days later, involved a bomb thrown during a labor rally, leading to the deaths of eight police officers and at least four civilians. These events are commemorated in Chicago with a memorial on Desplaines Street, highlighting the city's pivotal role in labor history. 
