Quiz of the Day
Workers & Labour History
Friday, 1 May 2026
International Workers' Day / May Day — labour movement, workers' rights milestones
1. What event in 1886 is May Day (International Workers' Day) linked to?
- The Haymarket affair in Chicago
- A textile workers' march in Paris
- A miners' strike in Wales
- A factory fire in London
Workers rallied for an 8-hour work day when a bomb exploded at a labour rally in Haymarket Square. Eight anarchists were convicted (on dubious evidence), and the event galvanised the global labour movement.
2. What was the standard work week before labour movements fought for change?
- 50 hours
- 60 hours
- 70-80 hours
- 40 hours
In the early Industrial Revolution, 14-16 hour days, 6 days a week were common — even for children. The 8-hour day movement's slogan was: '8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, 8 hours for what we will.'
3. Which country was the first to introduce a national minimum wage?
- United Kingdom
- United States
- New Zealand
- Australia
New Zealand introduced the world's first national minimum wage in 1894 through the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Australia followed in 1907. The UK didn't introduce one until 1999.
4. What is a 'trade union'?
- An organisation of workers formed to protect their rights and interests
- A government department
- A business partnership
- A type of trade agreement
The first recorded strike was by tomb builders in ancient Egypt around 1152 BC, who downed tools because their rations hadn't been delivered. They chanted 'We are hungry!' — the oldest known protest slogan.
5. What famous labour movement event took place at the Ford Motor Company in 1914?
- Workers formed the first auto union
- Henry Ford offered $5 per day (double the average wage)
- The first car factory strike
- The first assembly line was introduced
Ford's $5 day was radical — it doubled wages overnight. His reasoning was partly pragmatic: well-paid workers could afford to buy the cars they built. Annual turnover dropped from 370% to about 16%.
6. What does the acronym ILO stand for?
- International Labour Organisation
- Industrial Legislation Order
- International Legal Office
- International Law Office
The ILO was founded in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles and is the only surviving institution from the League of Nations. It won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 and has 187 member states.
7. Which country pioneered the 4-day work week trials that gained global attention in the 2020s?
- Japan
- Iceland
- Sweden
- New Zealand
Iceland's 4-day week trials (2015-2019) involving 2,500 workers found that productivity stayed the same or improved, while worker wellbeing dramatically increased. The results led to 86% of Icelandic workers negotiating shorter hours.
8. What were the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' famous for?
- Writing the first labour laws
- Inventing the printing press
- Leading the French Revolution
- Being transported to Australia for forming a trade union
In 1834, six Dorset farm labourers were sentenced to penal transportation for swearing an oath of solidarity. A massive public outcry led to their pardoning and return. They're considered founding figures of the trade union movement.
9. What colour is traditionally associated with May Day and the labour movement?
- White
- Blue
- Red
- Green
Red became the colour of the labour movement in the 19th century, symbolising the blood of workers shed in the struggle for rights. Red flags, red roses, and red banners are common at May Day marches worldwide.
10. Which act established the right to paid annual leave for workers in the UK?
- The Working Time Regulations 1998
- The Factory Act 1833
- The Employment Act 1980
- The Trade Union Act 1871
UK workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid annual leave. Before 1998, around 2 million UK workers had no paid holiday at all. The EU Working Time Directive drove the change.
11. What is 'collective bargaining'?
- Negotiation between employers and worker representatives
- A type of auction
- A government-set wage policy
- Individual salary negotiation
The term was coined by Beatrice Webb in 1891. Countries with strong collective bargaining systems tend to have lower income inequality. In Sweden, about 90% of workers are covered by collective agreements.
12. What was the 'gig economy' before the internet?
- Day labourers and piece workers
- Government contract work
- Music industry term for live performances
- Freelance journalism
The word 'gig' comes from 1920s jazz musicians who called each performance a 'gig'. Today's gig economy (Uber, Deliveroo, etc.) has reignited debates about workers' rights that echo the battles of the 19th century.
13. Who led the United Farm Workers movement in the United States?
- Dolores Huerta
- César Chávez
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Both César Chávez and Dolores Huerta
Chávez and Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. Their grape boycott of the late 1960s became one of the most successful consumer boycotts in US history, involving 17 million Americans.
14. What significant right did the Match Girls' Strike of 1888 in London help establish?
- The right to equal pay
- The right to maternity leave
- The right to vote
- The right to form unions for women workers
About 1,400 women and girls at the Bryant & May factory struck over dangerous working conditions (phosphorus caused 'phossy jaw'). Their victory inspired other unskilled workers to unionise and is seen as a landmark moment for women's labour rights.
15. How many countries celebrate May 1st as a public holiday for workers?
- About 120
- About 40
- About 80
- About 160
Ironically, the United States — where the event that inspired May Day occurred — does not celebrate it as a workers' holiday. Instead, the US observes Labor Day on the first Monday of September.