May Day

Around the world, people are celebrating May Day, otherwise known as International Workers' Day, or simply Labour Day.

The idea for a "workers holiday" began in Australia in 1856. Then, in 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada (FOTLU) passed a resolution that "eight hours shall constitute a legal day's labor from and after May 1, 1886."

The idea of a holiday honoring workers and the eight-hour workday spread around the world, and the choice of May 1st became both a celebration of the eight-hour work day and a commemoration for the people involved in the 1886 Haymarket affair in the United States (where the holiday is not celebrated).

This May Day, we invite you to support worker justice by getting more involved with two of our main partners in this area: Let Justice Roll and Interfaith Worker Justice.