Mayday, Mayday: The Return of the American Strike Fantasy
The roots go back to the late 19th century, when American labor was less “9 to 5” and more “sunup to collapse.” The rallying cry was simple: eight hours for work, eight for rest, eight for life. In 1886, that demand erupted into nationwide strikes, culminating in the infamous Haymarket Affair in Chicago. A bomb, gunfire, dead police, dead civilians, and a trial that still sparks debate today. It was messy, chaotic, and deeply human—exactly the kind of event that leaves a permanent scar on history.
