may day history
May 1st, 2009
Author of the brilliant and groundbreaking work, "A People's History of the United States," historian Howard Zinn spoke with me this week from his Auburndale home in Massachusetts about the history and meaning of May Day. 121st day of 2009 – 244 remaining Friday, May 1, 2009 MAY DAY Rally 'round the Maypole, as we gather this information for you to start this, the merry. During the 19th century, shearers in Australia endured meagre wages and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members.