Photo Review
May Day 2026

Working People Worldwide Militantly Affirm Rights and Oppose U.S.-Led Imperialist Aggression and War

Havana, Cuba

Working people around the world militantly affirmed their rights on May Day, the day of international working class unity and struggle. This includes not only their rights to decent living and working conditions, but their social and political rights so that they are the decision-makers in all the matters that affect their lives. Actions everywhere affirmed the unity of the international working class, especially in those countries and regions where working people are the most exploited by imperialist cartels and coalitions of oligopolies and supranational financial, military, political, cultural and social narrow private interests. Workers everywhere steadfastly opposed the brutal crimes, aggression, massacres, occupations and takeover organized by the U.S. imperialists and their Zionist accomplices and all those who aid and abet the commission of their crimes.

CANADA
Montreal

On May 1 and 2 in Montreal, more than 10,000 people took to the streets for marches organized for International Workers' Day.

On Friday, May 1, a crowd of over 3,000, mostly young people, including high school students, gathered in front of the Montreal Stock Exchange tower at Place Victoria to denounce the capitalist system of exploitation and affirm their aspirations for a future that defends the rights of all. Speakers took turns denouncing the Carney government's war preparations, its efforts to recruit young people into the army, the Zionist forces' attack the previous day on the Global Sumud Flotilla, and the genocide of the Palestinian people. Others spoke of the numerous injustices in society against young people, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and migrants; police harassment; the fact that many of them have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet; the housing crisis; attacks on health care workers and those in early childhood centres; and layoffs. They conveyed the strong desire among young people for change and to humanize the natural and social environment.

The heavy police presence -- on foot, horseback and bicycles, with numerous paddy wagons and their riot squad manoeuvres -- failed to intimidate the youth, who defied police attempts to confine the march and force it to go in circles. The young people managed to make their way from the Stock Exchange Tower to René-Lévesque Boulevard. The police used pepper spray and made arrests at the end of the march.

On Saturday, May 2, more than 7,000 people gathered in front of the Georges-Étienne Cartier statue near Jeanne-Mance Park, responding to the call of nine labour unions and federations, rights advocacy groups and student associations. Workers with flags, signs and banners arrived by bus from the Outaouais, Quebec City, Eastern Townships, Laurentians, Lanaudière and Chaudière-Appalaches regions, among others.

Construction workers were out in force, followed by various unions representing the health and education sectors, as well as workers who have been on strike or without a collective agreement for years. The issue of defending safe working and living conditions that reflect the level of responsibility of their jobs was central to their demands. Community organizations, part of the Community Organizations at the End of their Rope (Communautaire à boutte) movement, and student associations were also present.

This Quebec in motion to resist made its voice heard loud and clear with numerous signs opposing the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government's nation-wrecking, whether under former Premier Legault or current Premier Fréchette. Anti-worker laws and bills were condemned, as were all those aimed at silencing workers' voices.

The demonstrators marched along Park Avenue toward the downtown, rallying at Place des Festivals. Striking or locked out workers were warmly greeted and applauded. A union representative, a spokesperson for community organizations and a member of the Quebec Student Union each took turns defending the dignity of work and the key role of workers in society to block the destruction that is taking place. They denounced laws and economic measures that only serve to benefit wealthy private interests. Furthermore, they called for the withdrawal of Bill 1, the Quebec Constitution bill introduced by Justice Minister Jolin-Barrette, arguing that it aims to ensure the people have no say in decisions that affect them, which met with enthusiastic applause from the demonstrators.

Everyone present expressed their determination to step up the fight in defence of their interests, their dignity, their rights and the rights of all.

Quebec City

Ottawa

Gatineau

Toronto

May Day actions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) highlighted struggles that workers are waging for their rights, for protection of public services and for an Ontario and Canada in which the rights of all are upheld. Besides other fights that the working people in Ontario are waging against the anti-social offensive of the Ford government, the struggle of postal workers to maintain the postal service across the country, to stand up to the concessions demanded by Canada Post and the attacks of the federal government and to achieve a collective agreement that is acceptable to them were on the minds of many. Likewise, health care and education workers presented their demands in street actions and social media posts to mark the day.

Education workers in Whitby organized an action at the office of the Member of the Provincial Parliament for Whitby to demand an end to the Ford government's attacks on education, teachers and education workers and the takeover of the duties of elected school trustees, and for increased investments in education. They were joined by the members of the Durham Region Labour Council, postal workers and others.

Activists of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) distributed close to 700 copies of the May Day statement of the Workers' Centre of CPC(M-L) to workers at three postal sorting stations -- in Toronto, Scarborough and Mississauga -- and to commuters in south Etobicoke at a militant picket at the Islington subway station. During the hour-long picket at the subway, dozens of people went out of their way to express their support for the action, particularly drawing attention to the banner calling for an anti-war government and flags in support of the Palestinian people. There were lively discussions and many passing drivers honked their horns in approval throughout.

Edmonton

May Day in Edmonton was celebrated with a militant march and rally with workers from many sectors of the economy, migrant workers, and many active in support of the worldwide resistance to imperialist war, aggression and genocide and in support of revolutionary Cuba, the resistance of the Palestinian, Lebanese, Yemeni and Iranian peoples, and all who are fighting for their right to be.

The evening’s events began at Gazebo Park where emcee Merryn Edwards greeted everyone and introduced the speakers. The first speaker was James Ball, President of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 730. He explained the negative aspects of the collective agreement currently being voted on by postal workers, gave many examples of the destruction of the public post office by successive governments and the proposals CUPW has made which would contribute to nation-building.

Karen Kuprys, Vice-President of United Nurses of Alberta spoke about the drive by the United Conservative Party (UCP) government to dismantle the public health care system and the many anti-worker and anti-social acts of the Danielle Smith UCP government. "We the workers do not consent," she said, affirming that together workers will defend their rights and the rights of all.

Cynthia Palmaria from Migrante Alberta spoke about how the capitalist crisis is impacting workers in Alberta, the Philippines and around the world, with rising costs of living at the same time that attacks on workers intensify. She called for justice for the Negros 19, who were massacred by the Philippine Army on April 19. She implicated Canada for its aggressive role in Philippines amidst rising resistance by Filipino workers, while others are forced to migrate in order to feed their families. The massacre occurred in the context of the Canadian Armed Forces' first ever participation in the U.S.-led Balikatan 2026 war exercises near the Philippines, and Canada's Status of Visiting Forces Agreement signed in November 2025, to facilitate greater involvement of the Canadian military in the Philippines.

Everyone then took part in a lively and militant march with banners and flags of many organizations and unions flying, along Whyte Avenue and up 103 Street to the Strathcona Community Centre where there were more speakers, refreshments and discussion.

Karm Ryan from United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 401 sent greetings to the rally. She said that the workers have said enough is enough to staffing shortages, rising workloads, inflation, and lack of support when they experience abuse from customers. They are in negotiations and are preparing for a fight for the wages that reflect the real cost of living, and working conditions which uphold the right to safety and an end to harassment, abuse, intimidation and violence.

Jay Procktor, a member of the Alberta Teachers' Association Executive Council also sent a message. He spoke about the strike waged by Alberta teachers six months ago, how teachers smashed the silence on the conditions of teaching and learning, and thanked everyone for their steadfast support. His main message was the need to “stop looking up; continue to look across at each other and remember the power you have, because working people are fit to run their own affairs.”

Peggy Morton, a member of the May Day Committee, spoke about the conditions at this time when U.S. imperialism is using extreme violence and destruction, but cannot bring the people to their knees. She saluted revolutionary Cuba and the resistance movements of the people of Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen and the Iranian resistance and all the peoples of the world fighting for their right to be. It is the working class which is taking up its responsibility to keep the oligarchs in check, and it is the people who are decisive, she said.

Ramon Antipan, spokesperson for Edmonton Cuba Solidarity Committee spoke about the genocidal assault on the Cuban people by the Trump administration, the resistance of the Cuban people and the importance of uniting to not permit Canada to buckle under U.S. threats and dictate.

Calgary

International Workers' Day in Calgary was marked by a militant picket in front of the U.S. Consulate in the heart of downtown Calgary during evening rush hour. Banners and placards were held high boldly declaring that the people stand with all those across the globe fighting for their right to be. During the picket and throughout the streets of Calgary, chants defending the rights of workers and defending the rights of all rang out non-stop.

A spokesperson for May Day Calgary explained that the decision was taken to picket in front of the U.S. Consulate to highlight Canadians' opposition to U.S. crimes against humanity and imperialist aggression. He also condemned the Carney government's support for aggression and the restructuring of the Canadian economy to serve imperialist war. He spoke about the resistance of the peoples at home and abroad and the role of the working class in keeping the oligarchs in check and to build new human-centred arrangements. Others who spoke included education workers, teachers, an organizer of Palestinian solidarity actions, a speaker on the campaign to stop cuts to Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and a member of the collective formed to honour veterans of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion from Calgary. The May Day statement of CPC(M-L)'s Workers' Centre was warmly received by all.