International Workers’ Day

The Day is an opportunity for several union organizations to highlight the issues facing workers. In this year 2025, the May 1st Coalition of Labour Organizations and Community Movements proposes the theme Toujours debout contre l’austérité.

In the current context, with the application of austerity measures that weaken the most vulnerable populations, the economic stakes affected by the tariff war with neighbors to the south, the challenges of the energy transition, the housing crisis, the Coalition calls for governments to listen more closely to workers in order to “allow us to aspire to a dignified life.”

Numerous activities are being organized across Quebec and the country to clearly express the demands of workers from the Coalition’s various member unions, and of all those grappling with the challenges of the food crisis, the housing crisis and inflation.

These May 1st gatherings are intended as demonstrations of solidarity. In Montreal, a street march will be held on May 1 at 5:30 pm. The public demonstration takes place in Lalancette Park (Joliette metro station). For full details, follow the May 1st Facebook page.

Migration, the right to work and integration

In parallel with the union demands, the Assemblée des évêques du Québec (AEQ) has issued an awareness-raising message entitled “Migrations, droit au travail et intégration.” The message confirms the commitment to ensuring the dignity of every person. “We believe it is important to highlight the contribution of migrant people to our society and to recall the importance of ensuring them decent work that promotes their integration.”

The full message is available in English and French.

Some historical notes

May Day was established as International Workers’ Day as a result of the strike movement that began in Chicago, U.S.A. on May 1, 1886. This event brought together some 300,000 workers to demand eight-hour workdays. The demonstration turned tragic at the end of the day when police shot and killed three protesters. During a new rally the next day, a bomb exploded killing 15 police officers. Several workers were tried and sentenced to life imprisonment, while a dozen others were hanged on November 11, 1886. Six years later, the latter were exonerated.

During the meeting of the Second International Day of the trade union movement held in 1889, the European participants retained the day of May 1 as a symbolic day of the struggle of the workers. Curiously, the American trade unions will refuse to recognize May Day on the pretext, it seems, of the too Marxist tone of the European trade union movements.