May Day, unofficially known as ‘Union Christmas’ is a global day on 1 May each year to celebrate our victories as a movement, commemorate our defeats and dream of a better world to come.
The May Day protests grew out of the struggle for the eight-hour day. Stonemasons in Melbourne and Sydney had won the eight-hour day as a general industry standard in 1856, setting an international benchmark. In the decades to come workers campaigned to extend the right to other industries.
On 1 May 1886 in the United States somewhere between 300,000 to 500,000 workers took strike action for the eight-hour day. For the next three years in the U.S the labour movement was suppressed, but in 1890 a global day of protest was held to commemorate the 1 May strikes in the united states.
The Australian Labour movement got involved the following year in 1891 with the Shearer’s Strike. In Barcaldine, Queensland, over 1300 workers took part (with around 600 on horseback) with union banners and carrying the Eureka Flag.
The original May Day protest was supposed to be just that, one protest. But it quickly grew into something much more: a global celebration of workers and our movement.
Join a May Day event in your state to celebrate this fantastic day.
New South Wales
Newcastle – 05 May, assemble at Newcastle Museum to march to Newcastle Tramsheds for Family Fun Day (10am)
Sydney – 01 May, Belmore Park, (opposite Central Station), marching to Hyde Park (10:30am)
Wollongong – 04 May, Lowden Square, directly opposite Wollongong Train Station – eastern side (10am)
Queensland & NT
Events are being held from the 4th to the 6th of May in the following cities and towns: Alice Springs, Baracaldine, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gold Coast, Darwin, Gladstone, Ipswich, Mackay, Maryborough, Moranbah, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Thursday Island, Toowoomba, Townsville.
Check out the details for your town or city
Tasmania
Devonport – 01 May, Davenport Football Club (5pm)
Hobart – 11 May, CPSU carpark Victoria Street for Family Fun Day (11;30am)
South Australia
Adelaide – 04 May, Elder Park – marching to Victoria Square for a Family Fun Day (11am)
Western Australia
Fremantle – 05 May, The Esplanade (10:30am)
Victoria
Melbourne – Labour Day Dinner and Dance, Trades Hall (7pm) – click here to RSVP
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15 May 2024
