May Day

May Day, internationally recognised as a day to celebrate workers' rights, originated from the struggle for an eight-hour working day. Established by the Second International, an organisation of socialist and labour parties, in 1889, it serves as an opportunity for communities and organisations to demonstrate for improved conditions and rights for workers. Key themes of the day include unity, equality, and human rights, with May Day embodying a robust spirit of solidarity among workers worldwide.

May Day's history in Australia dates back to the 1850s when stonemasons in Sydney stopped work in support of an eight-hour workday. This protest led to the formal recognition of eight-hour working day legislation in 1856, making Australia home to one of the world's first labour movements to achieve this milestone. Today, May Day remains important to Australians, not only for its historical significance but for its ongoing relevance to workers' rights and labour conditions in the country.

Each year, Australians observe May Day with numerous events including marches, rallies, and community events orchestrated by trade unions and labour organisations. East Sydney is historically known to host an annual May Day march, which is attended by thousands of workers and their families. In the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, and certain parts of Western Australia, the Labour Day public holiday typically observed on the first Monday in October serves as their official celebration of May Day, tying in closely to the theme of worker's rights and the ongoing struggle for fair working conditions.