PARIS — Recognizing the contributions and struggles of laborers on May 1 has roots in late 19th-century Chicago, but there was a timeless quality to some International Workers’ Day observances held around the world Wednesday. The labor unions behind the first May Day considered an 8-hour work day a cause worth striking for during the second industrial revolution. In 2019, the focus in several Asian countries was fair working conditions. France deployed 7,400 officers to protect the capital and other protesters from the violence. Pope Francis offered a May Day prayer for people experiencing the “global tragedy” of unemployment.

Source: Washington Post May 02, 2019 01:07 UTC