May 1: Universal Day of Labor and Solidarity

May Day, celebrated annually on May 1, is an international holiday commemorating the struggles of workers and the achievements of the labor movement. Known globally as “International Workers’ Day” or “Workers’ Day”, this day is an official public holiday in many countries and has become a symbol of worker solidarity and unity. In Türkiye, May 1, known as Emek ve Dayanışma Günü, was declared a national holiday and public holiday by law in 2009.

Citizens Celebrating May 1 a Century Apart (Generated by artificial intelligence.)

History

In the 19th century, as the working class organized against the harsh working conditions created by industrialization, mass actions emerged centered on the demand for an eight-hour workday. On May 1, 1886, hundreds of thousands of workers in the United States participated in widespread strikes and demonstrations demanding the eight-hour workday. During these actions, several people lost their lives in a clash in Chicago known as the Haymarket Affair. This event acquired symbolic significance for the international labor movement.

In 1889, the International Congress of Workers’ Organizations (the Second International) held in Paris resolved to commemorate May 1 as a day of worker solidarity and struggle worldwide in memory of the Haymarket Affair. In accordance with this call, the first large-scale Workers’ Day rallies were held on May 1, 1890, in many countries, especially in Europe and America, establishing the tradition of annual observance of May 1. In 1904, the International Socialist Congress in Amsterdam issued a call for demonstrations and, where possible, work stoppages on May 1 to demand an eight-hour workday and other worker rights, further solidifying the day as a global act of solidarity.

Global Observance

Today, May 1 is officially recognized as a public holiday under the name Workers’ Day or similar terms in more than 160 countries worldwide. In many nations, workers and trade unions organize marches, rallies, and various events in public squares to voice demands for improved working conditions and expanded social rights. May 1 is observed as a public holiday across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, in countries such as the United States and Canada, similar worker celebrations are held on the first Monday of May, while in countries like the United Kingdom and Ireland, the first Monday of May is designated as an official public holiday. Throughout the 20th century, May 1 became one of the most important holidays in countries under socialist and communist regimes. In the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and other Eastern Bloc nations, May 1 was celebrated with state ceremonies and large-scale parades that included not only workers but also military displays, reflecting the ideological ideals of those societies. At the same time, some cultures also observe traditional spring festivals, such as the May Day celebration, on the same date; however, in the modern era, when May 1 is mentioned, it generally refers to celebrations centered on worker solidarity.

May Day Celebrations Worldwide. (AA)

Development in Türkiye

Ottoman Empire and Early Republican Period

In the Ottoman Empire, one of the strongest centers of worker organization was Thessaloniki, where on May 1, 1911, a demonstration was held involving tobacco, port, and cotton workers. The following year, for the first time, May Day celebrations took place in Istanbul. Even under the conditions of Istanbul’s occupation in 1921, workers held unauthorized demonstrations to commemorate May 1. Immediately after the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, May 1 was officially declared “Workers’ Day” in 1923 and gained legal status. However, in 1924 the government banned mass May Day celebrations, and in 1925, with the enactment of the Law on the Maintenance of Order, all forms of strikes, union activities, and demonstrations—including May Day events—were completely prohibited. In subsequent years, limited and controlled celebrations were occasionally permitted, and in 1935, the Law on National Holidays and General Holidays removed the political content of May 1 and declared it a public holiday under the name “Spring Festival”.

First May Day Celebrations in Türkiye. May 1, 1921 (

1970s: Strengthening of Trade Union Movements

With the transition to a multi-party system and the revival of trade union activity, a large-scale May Day rally was held in Istanbul’s Taksim Square in 1976 after a long hiatus. This rally, led by the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions, marked the first mass Workers’ Day celebration since the 1930s. In 1977, another massive rally in Taksim Square drew hundreds of thousands of participants and became the largest May Day celebration in Turkish history. However, toward the end of the event, unexplained gunfire erupted into the crowd, triggering panic and resulting in a major tragedy. As a result of the events, 34 people lost their lives, and this tragic incident entered history as the May Day Massacre. In 1978, May 1 was again commemorated in Taksim Square with the participation of hundreds of thousands. However, in 1979, the martial law administration banned demonstrations in Istanbul and imposed a curfew. Despite the official ban, small unauthorized May Day demonstrations continued in Istanbul’s streets in 1979. May 1, 1980, was observed only with limited participation in Mersin.

After the September 12, 1980 Military Coup

Following the military coup, all mass activities in the country, including May Day celebrations, were banned. One of the first acts of the junta was to remove May 1 from the list of public holidays, having previously designated it as “Spring and Flower Day”, and for many years no public celebrations were permitted on this date. Throughout the 1980s, May 1 could not be commemorated through official or open mass events in Türkiye. In the 1990s, under the influence of the revival of trade union activity and a relatively improved democratic environment, May Day observances gradually returned to public life. In 1996, tens of thousands participated in a large May Day rally held in Kadıköy, Istanbul, due to the ban on Taksim Square. During the first moments of the demonstration, police opened fire, resulting in the deaths of three workers; the ensuing tensions became one of the defining events of that era. After this incident, central May Day rallies in Istanbul were not permitted for many years, and commemorations continued in symbolic and small-scale forms.

The 2000s and Beyond

In 2007, on the 30th anniversary of the 1977 events, trade unions and civil society organizations sought to commemorate May 1 again in Taksim Square. However, due to interventions by security forces, widespread clashes occurred in Istanbul that year, and hundreds of people were detained. In response, the government announced in April 2008 that it officially recognized the name “Labor and Solidarity Day” in official literature. On April 22, 2009, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye passed a decision that, for the first time since 1981, declared May 1 a national public holiday. Starting in 2009, open and mass commemorations of May 1 resumed in many provinces of Türkiye. In 2010, approximately 140,000 people participated in May Day celebrations held in Taksim Square, marking the largest official Workers’ Day observance in Istanbul in 32 years. In 2011 and 2012, May Day continued to be celebrated peacefully with demonstrations across Türkiye, with Istanbul at the forefront.

By 2013, due to ongoing pedestrianization projects in Taksim Square and security concerns, authorities again denied permission for May Day celebrations in the square. Since then, alternative venues such as Yenikapı and Maltepe have been used for May Day events in Istanbul. Groups attempting to reach Taksim Square have frequently clashed with security forces, resulting in numerous arrests. Today, May Day continues to be commemorated annually in Türkiye with large-scale rallies and events led by trade unions, professional associations, and various civil society organizations, bringing workers’ demands into public discourse.

Scenes of May Day in Türkiye (AA)

Contemporary Significance

Despite the passage of decades, May Day, Labor and Solidarity Day, continues to hold great significance both globally and in Türkiye in terms of labor life. As an official public holiday in many countries, it serves not only to recall the historical struggle for workers’ rights but also as a vital opportunity to raise awareness of current issues. Annual events and demonstrations on May 1 draw attention to issues such as unemployment, low wages, precarious work, and workplace safety, making workers’ demands visible. In this sense, Labor and Solidarity Day has become a day that sustains the spirit of international solidarity among workers in an increasingly globalized world and symbolizes the pursuit of social justice. May Day celebrations, which honor past gains of the labor movement and pass them on to new generations, continue to emphasize the importance of labor life and workers’ rights in contemporary societies.