Workers' demonstration marks 'Labour Day' in Kolkata

Kolkata, May 1 (ANI): A large number of workers here celebrated the 'Labour Day' on Saturday by demonstrating for their rights on the streets of Kolkata.

Various labour organizations and trade unions marked this day, also known as May Day or International Workers' Day, by raising slogans for labour rights to prevent retrenchment and improve working ties with the employers here.

The participating demonstrators sang Communist songs to express solidarity with Chicago workers.

"The labour class has to fight for deciding their minimum wages...the labour class has to fight for deciding their hours of work...there is an urgent need to fight over all these issues... and there is a need for the labourers to fight together because the organised labour class is only seven percent in our country and the rest 93 percent is unorganised class. Therefore, it is the duty of the organised labours to help the unorganised ones to fight the system," said Alok Banerjee, a Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Leader.

He said demonstrating against the government is the only way to be heard.

May Day or International Workers' Day is observed in remembrance of the Chicago workers when the Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike, killing several demonstrators.

Also, it is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers.

The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. (ANI)