May Day Reflections, Young Workers Conference, LOTS of upcoming events, Labor in the Headlines

Dear friend in labor,

Welcome to May! Here at CLCS, this means that the semester has ended and campus has quieted down considerably. For the second summer in a row, we’re preparing for another move across campus!

As a labor movement, we’re collectively reflecting on International Workers’ Day, our power as a movement, and the political-economic future of the country. I’m sure many of you observed May Day in some way—whether that meant attending a demonstration or two, talking to co-workers about workplace protections, or reading about the holiday’s history.

The first celebration of IWD occurred in 1890 and marked a watershed moment in building labor solidarity across the world. Demonstrations took place in the U.S., across Europe, and in parts of South America, where workers rallied in support of American workers’ fight for a universal eight-hour workday, while grieving the workers killed during and after the 1886 Haymarket Affair. Since 1890, the world’s workers have used May Day as a moment for galvanizing support and for showing bosses and governments that when workers unite, they win.

The events that led to the first May Day

In 1884, at the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions convention, workers unanimously decided that, by May 1, 1886, the eight-hour workday would become the American standard. As May 1 approached, labor unions across the country prepared for a general strike.

In New York City, an estimated 10,000 workers walked out on a general strike. Here in Detroit, there were an estimated 11,000 on strike. Workers stayed out for days, ready to hold strong to get what they needed.

On the third day, May 3, August Spies—a labor activist, upholsterer, and journalist—urged workers to "hold together, to stand by their union, or they would not succeed". On that day, workers trying to confront scab workers were shot at by police, and at least two workers were killed.

Local activists were rightfully outraged at this police violence and called for a rally the next day, May 4, in Haymarket Square. According to firsthand accounts, it was a calm and nonviolent event. Speakers rallied attendees’ morale, educated them on the importance of an eight-hour workday, and sought to build more worker power. As the crowd was thinning out (in part due to spring weather in Chicago), labor activist and Methodist pastor Samuel Fielden gave a short speech, the last one of the event. As he wrapped up his speech, police officers showed up en masse to intimidate and disperse demonstrators.

As a line of police pushed toward the assembled workers, a homemade bomb was thrown in their path. After the bomb went off, all hell broke loose. Police officers and demonstrators opened fire (historians disagree on whether or not the cops shot first). The police forces reloaded and continued firing into the crowd. After five minutes of gunfire, the only demonstrators left were dead (4) or wounded (70+). One police official at the time said, “A very large number of the police were wounded by each other's revolvers.” In total, four workers and seven police officers were left dead.

Haymarket Square no longer exists today, but a commemorative monument stands on the former site, a few blocks away from Chicago’s Union Station. This photograph shows the Square ~1900.

A 1886 diagram of Haymarket Square at the time of the bomb detonation, from the Chicago Tribune.

The incident led to the end of the general strike, harsh anti-union clampdowns nationwide, and a lengthy and biased set of legal proceedings against seven labor leaders, which led to four executions. Employers regained control of their workers, and traditional workdays were restored to ten or more hours per day. On the face of it, things were grim.

But in this aftermath, workers only strengthened their resistance, further uniting their forces. In the summer following the Haymarket Affair, the American labor movement ballooned. Ideologically opposed unions stood together; Northern European immigrant workers joined unions en masse; the Knights of Labor doubled its membership that summer. The fight for an eight-hour workday continued, with the American Federation of Labor taking on the campaign in 1888, setting May 1, 1890 as the date for another general strike and rallying workers and unions across the world to join in the demonstration. These international demonstrations, in solidarity with striking American workers, marked the first International Workers' Day.

The right to an eight-hour workday didn’t come right away, but through sustained and repeated resistance. The United Mine Workers won an eight-hour day in 1898. The Business Trades Council won it in 1900. It was 1905 for the printing trades. Auto workers in 1914. In 1916, the Adamson Act guaranteed it for railroad workers. And in 1937, the New Deal’s Fair Labor Standards Act established the 40-hour work week as the national standard, 51 years after the Haymarket Affair. And, of course, eight-hour workdays are still not universal among American workers; there is still plenty of room for improvement.

So as we reflect on May Day 2026, it’s important that we acknowledge and learn from the workers who came before us. The close relationship between The Boss, the legal system, and state violence is longstanding. Workers—as a united force—must continue fighting day after day; only through sustained resistance can we change the conditions around us.

Leaders across the Labor Movement are calling for unity, demonstrations of power, and a real fight on May 1, 2028, led by the United Auto Workers. The UAW's contracts with the Big Three automakers are set to expire that day, and unions are working to strategize concerted action in an important election year, with the real possibility of a general strike. May Day 2028 will be a defining moment for American labor, a real test of coalitional organizing and political education. We have less than two years to make it happen; let's get organizing.

In Solidarity,

Dom Bouavichith

CLCS Staff

Lessons From Minneapolis: May 16

Connect with union, community, and faith leaders that are fighting back against ICE and building people power!

Hear from Minneapolis, Wisconsin, and Detroit labor and community organizers and help build for post May Day actions.

We will discuss what it is going to take to build towards a general strike in the future and protect our immigrant neighbors now!

CBTU Annual Convention: May 20-24

The 55th Annual Convention for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) will be held May 20-24 in Atlanta, GA.

The theme, Cherish our Legacy & Bend to No One, will guide the conversations and workshops.

More info below, on CBTU's website.

Planning Meeting #1 for LWLI26: May 30

Mark your calendars! Our first planning meeting for the 2026 Latina/o Workers Leadership Institute will be held on May 30, 10am-12pm.

This meeting will be held in the Renick University Center, room 1225.

Note: this location is NOT our typical location for planning meetings. We recommend typing "Renick University Center" into your navigation app, as all buildings on Dearborn's main campus share the same street address.

Tony Mazzocchi Centennial Conference: June 4-5

Rutgers School for Management and Labor Relations is holding an action-oriented program on what would be the 100th birthday of visionary labor leader, health and safety activist, labor party advocate, worker educator, and pioneer of the concept “Just Transition,” Tony Mazzocchi.

The Center for Labor and Community Studies (CLCS) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS) are hosting an evening of music, storytelling, and connection with Joe Uehlein, as part of a national tour for his new memoir Three Roads: Labor Music Ecology.

Date: June 11, 2026
Time: 5:00–8:00 PM
Location: UAW Local 600
10550 Dix Ave, Dearborn, MI

UAW Constitutional Convention: June 15-18

UAW members: Mark your calendars for the Constitutional Convention!

The 39th Convention will be held June 15-18, in Huntington Place, right here in Detroit.

Planning Meeting #2 for LWLI26: June 20

Mark your calendars! Our second planning meeting for the 2026 Latina/o Workers Leadership Institute will be held on June 20, 10am-12pm.

This meeting will be held in the Renick University Center, room 1225.

Note: this location is NOT our typical location for planning meetings. We recommend typing "Renick University Center" into your navigation app, as all buildings on Dearborn's main campus share the same street address.

Registration is OPEN for 2026's Young Workers Conference! The conference will be held June 25-27 at the Somerset Inn in Troy, MI.

Participants will take one of nine workshops, including Health & Safety Essentials, Parliamentary Procedure, and Grievance Handling.

Scholarships are available!

UALE NE Summer Schools for Women+ in Unions & Worker Organizations:

Northeast Region: July 10-14

Southern Region: July 16-19

The UALE Northeast Women’s Summer School is a residential labor education program that brings together women and gender-expansive members of unions and worker organizations to develop leadership skills, deepen political analysis, and strengthen solidarity across movements. 

The Northeast conference will be held at CUNY in New York City, July 10-14.

The Southern conference will be held at Morehouse College in Atlanta, July 16-19. (Registration coming soon!)

UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference: August 7-9

This conference will include workshops on applied skills for new and experienced labor and allied social movement researchers. Dynamic keynote speakers and a variety of exciting training sessions will help strengthen and add new skills to your research repertoires.  Come join union researchers from across the country in discussions about the future of labor research and organizing! 

Note: applications are due THIS FRIDAY!

On April 25, CLCS held its FIRST Arab American Workers' Forum, where workers and community members were joined by leaders and scholars to discuss the past, present, and future of building Arab labor power in SE Michigan.

In early June, CLCS will be moving offices! Our new space will be in Fairlane Center South (19000 Hubbard Dr.), in Suite 262.

This building is where we typically hold conference planning meetings, as well as three of our conferences: Latina/o Workers Leadership Institute, Fall Leadership Institute, and Workers' Pride Conference.

Placemaking Through Landscape Design: July 13-17

Lawrence Tech University, in collaboration with the City of Southfield, is holding a hands-on summer program for high school students

Free Guide from Coach Carlos

Coach Carlos joined CLCS at the Michigan School for Women Workers, sharing his Future Man Success Prep guide.

We invite faculty from all three campuses to join for our Faculty Affiliate cohort, which will be meeting in February.

During this meeting, we'll discuss plans for the Winter 2026 semester and start developing programming and research plans.

All faculty (any campus, any position) are invited, and the meeting will happen over Zoom.

Respond to this email to get the Zoom link! Feel free to forward this newsletter to faculty who might be interested!

CLCS volunteers and staff shall act honestly and ethically while in the performance of their duties. They shall treat all CLCS employees, volunteers, and program participants with respect, courtesy, and dignity. CLCS staff and volunteers shall not discriminate and shall be respectful of ethnic, national, gender, and cultural differences. 

Any concerns should be brought promptly to CLCS Staff.

Center for Labor & Community Studies

University of Michigan - Dearborn

1230 Social Sciences Building, 4901 Evergreen Rd,

Dearborn, Michigan 48128

Email: CLCS.labor@umich.edu, Phone:  313-583-6400; Fax 313-583-6430