LYNN — On Thursday, May 1, the New Lynn Coalition and the North Shore Labor Council, in partnership with coalition member organizations and council delegates, will host the 19th Annual Lynn May Day Rally. This annual commemoration of International Workers’ Day unites workers, immigrants, and community members to stand together for justice, dignity, and equity.
Following a brief rally at the South Common Bandstand at 5:30 p.m., participants will march approximately one mile to the General Electric (GE) plant gates. There, they will join GE workers from Arkansas, Kentucky, New York, and international locations, showing powerful labor solidarity across regions and borders.
May Day, or International Workers’ Day, has its origins in the 1886 Haymarket Strike in Chicago, where workers organized to demand an eight-hour workday. The rallying cry from that historic movement still echoes today as communities across the globe mobilize for workers’ rights, democracy, and immigrant justice. Lynn’s May Day tradition began in 2006 with the “Day Without Immigrants” strike, which galvanized local support and led to the founding of the Lynn May Day Committee.
Tanveer Malik, Executive Director of the New Lynn Coalition, stated, “On this May Day, we stand united as a working-class community for justice and equality. We advocate for the rights of immigrants, workers, and the pursuit of affordable housing, food security, and healthcare. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to a future of dignity, fairness, and equal opportunities for all. Together, we move forward, united in our vision for a just and equitable society.”
Adam “Kaz” Kaszynski, President of the North Shore Labor Council, added, “With our upcoming contract with GE, we’re fighting for higher standards and better wages for all workers in our industry and community. Amid a cost-of-living crisis and the continued outsourcing of good U.S. jobs, now is the time to stand up and fight back. On International Workers’ Day, we unite working-class movements under one banner to do exactly that.”
This year’s rally will uplift the guiding slogans: Defend Democracy, Workers’ Rights, and Immigrant Rights. Participants will also rally around key national and local demands, including: Stop Mass Deportations, Support GE Workers for a Fair Contract, and Housing for All. The rally is open to all, and we encourage participants to bring friends, homemade signs, and banners from their organizations to highlight the broad solidarity and diversity of our movement. Organizations are invited to join and participate in the rally. The streets of Lynn will echo with voices demanding justice, fairness, and dignity for all.
