Dr. Jeanette Pinto –
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
The 20th century saw millions of young men enter the armed forces to serve their countries during the World Wars. For patriotic Allies, the call came soon after the Nazi invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. Millions more from the United States joined them after the bombing of Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941. With faith and courage veterans today recount their stories of service and sacrifice. The Industrial revolution as well as these events dragged thousands of the working classes who contributed their services in factories, mills, rail workshops ship yards and ammunition stores, all labouring and sacrificing their time energy and strength under great pressure for their country.
After Peace had been established the armed forces dedicated their lives defending the countries to keep them safe, but what about those who worked hard behind the scenes to make the wars a success? Many of the workers were still toiling under great stress and strain to meet the constant demand made by consumer countries. The pressure of a 16-hour day was draining their energies, the workers now wanted an 8-hour workday. There were protests, and several workers were killed in the confrontation and many were left wounded. After several years of resistance, constant struggles of working people, and the demand for fairness the United States finally recognised an 8-hour workday.
This was a significant victory, and the event came to be known as Labour Day. It was to champion the cause of the labour class emancipation. It is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers, the accomplishments of the labour movement and the benefits of having a union at work. It acknowledged the workers’ struggles and their subsequent empowerment. Specifically, the eight-hour day movement advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. It was in 1886 in the United States, when workers announced a general strike against a draining 16-hour workday. Americans celebrate Labour Day with parades, picnics and parties – festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday. It suggested to exhibit “the strength and esprit de corps” of trade and labour organizations.
Labour Day also known as May Day is celebrated in more that 80 countries, including India, Cuba and China. In India Labour Day was celebrated for the first time in 1923. It was organised by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on May 1, 1923 in (then Madras) now Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Labour Day here is celebrated under different titles including “Kamgar din” or “Antarrashriya Shramik Diwas’ in Hindi, “Uzhaopalar Naal’ in Tamil and “Kamgar Diwas in Marathi.
Tens of thousands marked May Day calling it Workers’ Day or International Workers’ Day. It is the day that commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement and it is observed by many countries. Events are organised wherein speeches rallies and honours are awarded to leaders among the working class. Tens of thousands mark May Day as Happy Labour Day! We pay tribute to all of them their hard work, contributions, achievements and for making our world a better place to live and work in. Also compliments to all employees, customers, activists, partners and supporters.
To celebrate Labour Day, we thank God for the blessing of work. Let’s pray to complete each day and ask for rest when we are weary. Does not the Bible say that six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. Work is a key to full joy in the plan of God. If our motive is to serve God where we are, then our labour “in the Lord is not in vain,” if we are righteous, we will return to live with our Heavenly Father, and we will have work to do as we become like him, our work will become like His work.
It would be fitting to remember dear St. Joseph the earthly father of Jesus, and a person of solid conviction. He was a carpenter by profession who hailed from Bethlehem before he married Mary, Mother of Jesus, and settled in Nazareth. He was a simple man of powerful silent witness, humble and obedient to God’s plan. He listened to God and then made his life one of service and sacrifice to Jesus and Mary. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, as well as of craftsmen, engineers and working people among others.
Dr Jeanette Pinto, an educator for the past 5 decades, headed the Department of History was Vice Principal of St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, and retired as Principal of Sophia College, Mumbai. She is a counsellor and conductor of Personal Enrichment Programmes for students and teachers.
She set up the Human Life Committee in the Archdiocese of Bombay. As a sex educator she has given talks on Human Sexuality in India and abroad. In 2014 she received the Rachana Outstanding Woman of the Year for her Pro-life work presented by the Diocese of Mangalore. She has attended many National and International Pro-life conferences and given talks at other fora on various women’s issues.
She is author of a couple of books, her most recent ones are titled: I’m Pro-Life Are you? & Sex Talk: Parent to Child. She has also written a number of articles on a variety of themes and subjects, which have been published in research journals, The Examiner and other Catholic publications.