Stephen's Almost Daily PicBlog
Work Rest & Play
Posted by Stephen Skok (ASCOT VALE, Australia) on 8 August 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture.
Well, today is the 8th of the 8th of the 8th; allegedly eights are lucky and auspicious in Chinese culture, hence the Beijing Olympics start today. However, I asked a Malaysian student about eights being lucky and auspicious, he replied that this might be the case in Mandarin but in Cantonese culture the eights are more about busy bodies. Just goes to show that nothing is simple and straight forward and not necessarily true as we would like it. But I digress.
I took this pic on the corner of Russell St & Victoria Parade, Opposite Trades Hall, here in Melbourne, located in the state of Victoria.
This monument to the three eights celebrates the 8 hour day for working men and women; 8 hours work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours play. In April 1856, a deal between building tradesmen and contractors was struck, with colonial government approval, and the 8 hour working day came into being. The stonemasons who lead the demands for the 8 hour day, argued that eight hours a day was appropriate in the Australian heat and it would also provide them with time to improve their 'social and moral condition'.
That was 152 years ago and according to Museum Victoria, this achievement established a national and international standard to which working people everywhere could aspire. It was widely celebrated as a world first and formed the basis of Australia's reputation as a 'workingman's paradise'.
However, only a minority of workers initially won the Eight Hour Day. Most workers, including women and children, generally worked longer hours for less pay. It was common to work twelve to sixteen hours a day.
The Eight Hour Day became a symbol of the rights of workers to organise to achieve their rights not only as workers, but as citizens in a democratic society.
In this Victoria, our dear land,
The first that dared be free,
To show the world what freedom meant
In new lands 'cross the sea
- Ode to the Eight Hours' Pioneers
Hamilton Mackinnon, April 21, 1896.
Also check out my other pix at: http://pixelworker.smugmug.com
