In 1886, workers across the country led historic strikes and protests demanding fair and safe working conditions. Now, 140 years later, their fight for the same goals continues with the current generation as they navigate new labor challenges.
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, dates back to the 19th century when workers began advocating for the now-standard eight-hour workday. Beginning May 1, 1886, Chicago laborers went on strike for just three days before police intervention and attacks began, leading to the deaths of several workers and officers. Although not recognized as an official holiday in the United States, the 1889 International Socialist Conference declared May Day a labor holiday still observed by unions across the country today.
May 1, 2026, Cal Anderson Park was flooded with hundreds of people representing 47 unions and organizations. The rally was hosted by MLK Labor, which represents and connects unions across King County. Speeches from various organizers began promptly at noon, given entirely in both English and Spanish. Speakers advocated for an end to corporate greed and worker exploitation, as well as protection for immigrants against deportation and detention.
One notable speaker was Maximo Londonio, more commonly known as Kuya Max. Londonio, a Filipino immigrant and union leader for the International Association of Machinists Local 695, was recently released from a Tacoma detention facility after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In his speech, Londonio called for an end to ICE presence and justice for the Negros 19, a group of activists recently killed by the Philippine military under suspicion of involvement with the New People’s Army, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Philippine and United States governments. The incident has since prompted an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines. Among those killed was Seattle-area activist Kai Sorem, who had visited Londonio on multiple occasions during his detention.
Londonio and other speakers emphasized the need for immigrants to be uplifted and represented in broader labor-related discussions as the Trump administration continues to increase harsh immigration and deportation policies, which Forbes argues have harmed all workers across the country.
“I’m an immigrant. I came across the border on the shoulders of my grandfather when I was 5 years old,” Manuel Brito, an executive board member for SEIU 775 representing long-term care workers, said. “I call this my country. I went into the military. I spent four years in the United States Air Force. So I call this my country, and the way it’s going now, it’s going downhill. With the new administration, there’s attacks on us immigrants; us immigrants who are here to make a good living and also to help our country. This is a country that is made by the immigrant people.”
At the rally, flags for the Philippines, Palestine, Mexico, the United States and various political parties waved across the sky. Members of Teamsters 117, a Tukwila-based labor union, held up a massive maypole adorned with colorful streamers sporting pro-worker messages. The group carried signs stating that “Immigrant Rights are Workers’ Rights.”
“Immigrants make this country. If you take them out of the workforce, you’re taking the workforce away. Not only do we need to bolster protections for immigrants, but also bolster our minimum wages across the board, in one part so that we’re not pitting immigrants against other working people, because we all rely on each other,” attendee and Teamsters Representative Laura Yurka said.
Yurka also works with the Seattle Strike Coalition, a group seeking to organize a multi-day targeted strike against ICE, inspired by similar actions in Minneapolis earlier this year.
“Ultimately, it’s about showing that the people’s voices are strong enough to make real change, and that we aren’t going to stand for this,” Yurka said.
A boycott against Seattle-founded outdoor chain REI was also called for by UFCW 3000, a labor union representing healthcare and retail workers across Washington. The company has come under fire for allegedly refusing to negotiate with workers attempting to unionize.
According to Rich Smith, communications director for UFCW 3000, unionizing is the best and most direct way to create change.
“Unions as an institution are the source of power for the working class in this country. They’re the best thing that we have to fight back against fascism, against corporate greed” Smith said. “Sitting across from your boss and telling them what your working conditions are like, there’s nothing more liberating than that, and nothing more practical than that.”
