May Day actions evolve to a nationwide demonstration

Publish Date

May 1, traditionally referred to as International Workers’ Day, commemorates workers who died at a mass strike for an 8-hour workday in Chicago in 1886. You may be thinking, “does withholding work really make a difference?” Absolutely! It is the ultimate tool of working people. In 1934, Minneapolis workers shut down the city in one of the greatest general strikes in US history. Minneapolis was one of the most anti-union cities in the country. Workers were violently attacked while trying to organize unions for better pay, hours and working conditions. Workers would not back down. It took three months of fighting, but in the end, workers won!

Unions were won on the backs of fellow workers from previous generations. Many sacrificed their lives along the way, which has allowed workers an 8-hour workday, weekends, health care, pay raises, lunch breaks, paid time off, paid holidays, Family Medical Leave, social security, overtime pay, Equal Rights Acts, pensions and more!

These powerful actions directly relate to our power-building as a union as we enter contract negotiations and organizing together for shared goals. We need to elect people who will put workers first. Our taxes are funding billionaires, wars and ICE instead of supporting our daily lives and the essential work we do for the public in our jobs as we work hard every day to support our fellow Minnesotans, with 20% of MAPE jobs being federally funded.

This year, the May Day holiday is being paired with actions across the state and nation for a day of No Work, No School, No Shopping to demand a country that puts workers over billionaires.

MAPE's Board of Directors supports our members standing in solidarity with union siblings participating in May Day Actions on May 1.

Members are encouraged to decide how they want to answer the call to action in their communities and on their own time. Remember, this can look like requesting vacation, using a floating holiday or balancing hours. If you are unable to leave work, it could look like avoiding shopping on May 1, donating some wages to a community cause, using your lunch break to call your elected officials, attend a sign-making party, provide water and snacks to rally participants, sign the petition and more!

Actions are happening across the state. Join us as we exercise our collective action muscles and demonstrate the power we hold when we act in unity as workers! Here’s where MAPE will be:

Mayday Strong Coalition’s Day of No Work, No School, No Commerce

MAPE’s Executive Committee has endorsed the Mayday Strong Coalition’s initiative.

Events occurring on May 1 are listed on their website, including:

Minneapolis May Day parade and festival 

Minneapolis May Day is hosting a parade on Sunday, May 3, beginning at noon on Bloomington Ave from 28th St to Powderhorn Park. A ceremony and festival will follow the parade at Powderhorn Park.

Upcoming Trainings

Attend a training on how to participate in and talk to coworkers about May 1 events.
April 25, from 11 - 12:30 p.m.
Register here.