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Foley Square was once again the site of a massive gathering of workers and union leaders celebrating May Day, International Workers Day. Whereas last year's event drew thousands of workers calling for a ceasefire in the conflict in the Gaza Strip, this year's rally and march focused far more on the immediate threats that American workers face from the Trump administration.
Amid union banners and solidarity signs on Foley Square May Day were homemade posters deriding President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and other billionaires brought by New Yorkers frustrated with the administration. Some attendees also waved Palestinian flags or carried pro-Palestinian signs in protest of the White House’s support for Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Workers who spoke with The Chief said that Trump is an immense threat to workers and unions, and felt it was important to gather en masse to make their voices heard.
Matthew McMillan, a member of Transport Workers Union Local 100 and a mechanic in the East New York maintenance shop, said Trump was out to “erode the rights of everybody.”
“He’s trying to take away the right to collectively bargain,” McMillan said, referencing the administration's attempts to strip bargaining rights from more than 1 million federal workers. “They’re trying to take away the rights of labor unions and increase the power of big business.”
McMillan attended the rally with a group of several dozen TWU Local 100 members who wore Local 100 sweaters and hats. Members of the United Federation of Teachers, several different District Council 37 locals, the New York State Nurses Association, the Hotel Gaming and Trades Council, the Service Employees International Union, the United Auto Workers and several different building trades unions were all present and ensured they were accounted for.
“It’s amazing that all of these organizations and unions are standing up for our shared humanity and dignity,” said Jeremiah Bornemann, a paraprofessional and UFT member, who stood on the rally's perimeter.
Hundreds of others had no discernible union affiliation, but joined to express their discontent with the Trump administration. The crowd skewed older than previous years and speakers included federal workers displaced by the administration’s cuts, advocates for immigrants and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who urged the crowd not to “underestimate the power of organizing right now in this moment.”
“We stand here united to say that the billionaire class should be afraid of the power of labor and everyday workers across the country,” she said. “That they should respect our way of life and our rights to be able to have dignified wages, benefits and civil rights for every American.”
After about 45 minutes of speeches, workers left Foley Square, marched onto Broadway down to Bowling Green and the Charging Bull statue. May Day rallies were held in several other different cities in the United States as well on Thursday.
Some unions held events of their own in addition to the massive Foley Square rally. Members of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys briefly formed informational picket lines outside their offices across the city in the early afternoon in solidarity, and also to inform New Yorkers of their ongoing contract fight.
Dozens of the union’s members and staff organizers, alongside members of other UAW locals in the city, also attended the rally.
Daniel Garcia-McGuire, with the Organization of Staff Analysts, was in a jubilant mood among about a dozen of his union colleagues. An outreach coordinator at the city Campaign Finance Board, Garcia-McGuire said that he was raised by two parents who were members of Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union.
The union took care of him and his parents. he said, and his mother and father instilled in him the importance of standing up for working people anywhere and everywhere.
“This is about showing solidarity,” Garcia-McGuire told The Chief. “This is about remembering the power we all have.”
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DOTHERIGHTTHING
Meanwhile UFT Mulgrew took earned promised Medicare from 250,000 NYC Medicare Retirees.
Mulgrew needs to be voted out ASAP!
Sunday, May 4 Report this