As early as 1842, long before the International Socialist Congress designated May 1 as a worker's holiday, American labor organizers called for replacing the then common 14 hour workday, with an 8 hour one. "Whether you work by the piece or work by the day; decreasing the hours, increases the pay," read their slogan.
Ironically, May 1, now Law Day in the US, is becoming an annual logistical headache for some countries.
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