Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, once said that “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
I was reminded of these prophetic words when considering the relevance (or lack of it) of Labour Day, which is celebrated on different dates in the Australian states and territories. The public holiday is celebrated in Queensland and the Northern Territory on the first Monday in May. In 2022, Queenslanders thus enjoy this public holiday on May 2.
As Queenslanders relish their Labour Day public holiday, it is still possible to swim in the ocean and, hence, the beaches could be packed with people, wanting to take advantage of a long weekend.
Labour Day, regardless of its allocation on the public holiday calendar, is eagerly anticipated by Australians as providing yet another opportunity to take their families to the beach or the bush.
Nevertheless, it is fair to say that most people do not have any understanding anymore of the meaning and relevance of Labour Day, and they would have little or no knowledge of its rich and eventful history. Although the veracity of this statement is not supported by statistical surveys, anecdotal evidence reveals it to be true.
The reasons for celebrating Labour Day thus remain a mystery for many people in Australia. In this context, the question might be asked why Australia persists with a public holiday, the origins of which people may no longer appreciate.
In contrast, Christians know that the meaning and purpose of Christmas Day is to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Similarly, most Australians and New Zealanders know that Anzac Day, which happens on April 25, commemorates the gallantry, heroism, and ultimate sacrifice of our brave soldiers in horrible overseas conflicts. And everyone knows that on Jan. 1, people around the world welcome a new year. Yet the meaning of Labour Day is merely a clouded and foggy concoction of unions, workers, strikes, and parades.
The Labour Day movement grew out of the eight-hour day movement in the 19th century, when British socialist Robert Owen advocated, as early as 1817, eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
In Australia, the Labour Day public holiday celebrates the efforts of the labour union movement and the economic and social achievements of workers and their contribution to today’s welfare state. The first Labour Day Parade was held in Melbourne on April 21, 1856.
Of course, the Labour Day movement is a worldwide movement. For example, it is also celebrated in the United States and Canada, where the public holiday occurs on Sept. 1 and is regarded informally as the end of the summer holidays. In the United States, the Labor Day holiday, first proposed by Peter J. McGuire, became an official federal holiday in 1894.
There is no doubt that the forces which led to Labour Day becoming a public holiday contributed, in manifold ways, to the introduction of better and safer working conditions for workers.
Sometimes, the movement was also supported by astute employers, who knew that, in treating workers well, they could increase their corporate profits. For example, in January 1914, Henry Ford doubled the wages of his workers and reduced the working day from nine hours to eight hours. This ensured a stable workforce and provided an impetus to an economy driven by consumer demand.
It is feasible to speculate that the Labour Day movement also facilitated the successful introduction of child labour legislation, both domestic and international, to prohibit the production or manufacturing of goods by children.
In this context, the International Labour Organization adopted the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention in 1999. These legislative developments prohibit practices that use exploited and underpaid children in the making of products. Such practices constitute examples of predatory trade behaviour because they result in undercutting the price at which legislation and Convention compliant companies can make the same or similar products. This legislation thus eradicates the undeserved trade advantages which these products otherwise would have.
But the time has now come to remember that every movement has a beginning and a used by date.
As the importance of the meaning of Labour Day has dissipated, there is no compelling reason anymore to maintain it as a public holiday. Hence, Australian legislators should consider deleting this holiday from its public holiday calendar.
However, if this recommendation were to be implemented, it is likely that most people would be seriously dismayed, especially the unions, the role of which is constantly decreasing in prosperous societies.
It is, however, safe to speculate that the Labour Day public holiday is secure, for now, because once a privilege has been granted to people, they expect it to become a permanent arrangement.
This expectation, however, represents one of the true tragedies of our time, namely that societies have lost their ability to distinguish between a “right” and a “privilege.” Once a privilege is granted, those who have been accustomed to its benefits expect the privilege to become a permanent fixture.
But, from a legal point of view, there is an immense gulf between a “right” and a “privilege.” Only if people have an enforceable “right” would they be able to insist on permanency.
However, the Labour Day public holiday is a privilege granted by legislation. As such, it is merely a changeable benefit, characterised by its transitory nature.
Eisenhower’s statement is a reminder of the fickleness of a system of legally sanctioned privileges. It is also a poignant reminder of the enduring importance of fundamental principles for the long-term survival of societies. These principles surely include the principle that workers should be treated with respect because their contributions to the development of a fair work culture, and their sacrifices, have facilitated the making of the prosperous society in which we live. The Labour Day public holiday has served its purpose well.
