Why do Americans and Canadians celebrate Labor Day? -Kenneth C. Davis

為何美國人和加拿大人慶祝勞動節？ -Kenneth C. Davis

譯者: Xin Hua Sun 審譯者: Marssi Draw

How's this for a strange idea:

這是一個多麼奇怪的想法

a day off from work in honor of work itself?

為了慶祝工作而放一天假？

Actually, that is what Labor Day,

實際上這就是勞動節的由來

celebrated in the United States and Canada

美國和加拿大

on the first Monday of every September,

在每個九月的第一個星期一

is all about.

慶祝這個節日

The first American Labor Day

第一個美國的勞動節

was celebrated in New York City

在 1882 年 9 月 5 日的紐約市慶祝

on September 5th, 1882,

as thousands of workers and their families

數以千計的勞工跟他們的家人

came to Union Square for a day in the park.

來到聯合廣場的公園裡度過一天

It was not a national holiday

這在當時並不是一個法定假日

but had been organized by a union

而是由工會舉辦的活動

to honor workers and their hard efforts

在 7 月 4 日與感恩節之間

with a rare day of rest,

安排一個難得的休假日

halfway between July 4th and Thanksgiving.

感謝勞工和他們辛勤的付出

There were picnics and a parade,

人們在那天野餐和遊行

but there were also protests.

但也有抗議行動

The workers had gathered,

勞工們聚集在一起

not just to rest and celebrate,

不光是休息和慶祝

but to demand fair wages,

同時也要求更合理的薪資

the end of child labor,

以及終結童工

and the right to organize into unions.

和組織工會的權利

During the period known as

在工業革命時期

The Industrial Revolution,

many jobs were difficult, dirty and dangerous.

很多工作是相當困難、髒髒和危險的

People worked for twelve hours,

人們一天工作 12 小時

six days a week,

每週六天

without fringe benefits,

卻沒有假期、健康照護

such as vacations, health care and pensions,

以及退休金等附加福利

and if you were young, chances are

如果你是年輕人

you were doing manual labor

那麼你很可能從事勞力工作

instead of your ABCs and fractions.

而不是學習語言或數學

Children as young as ten

即使是 10 歲大的小孩

worked in some of the most hazardous places,

同樣在最危險的地方工作

like coal mines or factories filled with boiling vats

例如煤礦場或充滿滾燙水桶

or dangerous machines.

或危險機械的廠房

Trying to win better pay, shorter hours

為了爭取更好的薪水

較短的工時和安全的環境

and safer conditions

workers had begun to form labor unions

在美國和加拿大的勞工們

in America and Canada,

開始組織工會

but the companies they worked for

然而這些勞工們所效力的公司

often fought hard to keep unions out

卻時常極力阻撓工會

and to supress strikes.

以抑制罷工行動

At times, this led to violent battles

有時這就演變成

between workers and business owners

勞工與雇主之間的暴力鬥爭

with the owners often backed up by the police,

而雇主往往有警方的支持

or even the military.

甚至是軍方的支持

In the following years,

往後幾年

the idea of Labor Day caught on in America

勞動節在美國流行開來

with official celebrations reaching 30 states.

高達 30 個州由官方舉行慶祝活動

But then came the violent

然而隨之而來的卻是暴力衝突

Haymarket Square Riot of 1886,

1886 年乾草市場暴亂

which led to the deaths of several policemen

在芝加哥造成多位警察

and workers in Chicago

和勞工死亡

and the execution of four union leaders.

同時處決了四名工會的領導人

After that, many labor and political groups

此後，許多來自世界各地的

around the world

勞工和政治團體

had begun to mark Haymarket Square on May 1st,

開始在五月一日 紀念乾草市場事件

which became known as

而後演變成著名的

International Workers' Day.

國際勞動節

In 1894, President Grover Cleveland

1894 年時，格羅弗·克利夫蘭總統

signed the law making Labor Day a

簽署了法案

將勞動節訂定為聯邦法定假日

federal holiday in America,

only days after he had sent

就在法案簽署的幾天前

12,000 soldiers to end

他下令一萬兩千名士兵

a violent railroad strike

平息一場導致數人死亡的

that resulted in the death of several people.

鐵路罷工暴力事件

The original September date was kept,

勞動節保留在原先的九月

partly to avoid the more radical associations of May 1st.

部分原因是為了避免人們聯想到

五月一日而引發更多激烈衝突

Canada also created its Labor Day in 1894.

加拿大也在 1894 年訂定了勞動節

But, in spite of this new holiday,

然而，儘管有了這個新的節日

it would be a long time before the changes

勞工們所期盼的改變

that workers wanted

仍然需要很長一段時間

became a reality.

才能實現

In 1938, during the Great Depression

1938 年，經濟大蕭條時期

that left millions without jobs,

數百萬人失業

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

富蘭克林·德拉諾·羅斯福總統

signed a law calling for an eight-hour work day,

簽署了一項法案

訂定工時為每天八小時，每週五天

a five-day work week,

and an end to child labor,

終止雇用童工

some of the first federal protections for American workers.

成為聯邦保護美國勞工的首例法案

As America and Canada celebrate Labor Day,

隨著美國與加拿大開始慶祝勞動節

most of the two countries' children enjoy

兩國大部分的孩童

a day off from school.

可以享有一天的假日

But it is important to remember

但請記得

that there was a time that

曾經有一段時間

everyday was a labor day for children in America and Canada,

對美國和加拿大的孩童而言

每天都是勞動日

and unfortunately,

不幸的是

the same fact remains true

這個事實在今日仍然存在於

世界各地無數的孩童身上

for millions of children around the world today.