May Day is a reminder that a livable future depends on working people and organized labor. Environmental justice is worker justice because they are the people most affected by pollution, unsafe conditions, and a broken system that puts profit ahead of people.
Greenpeace USA is connecting the fight for clean air and water with the fight for fair wages, safe jobs, and the right to organize. If we want a just transition to a cleaner future, workers have to be at the center of it.
May Day to-dos:
- Don’t shop or spend money
- Join or lead a work or school walkout
- Encourage fellow workers to take action
May Day also reminds us that change does not happen by accident. It happens when people show up, stay organized, and build collective power over time. That lesson matters for climate work, where progress depends on coalitions that can push institutions to act.
May Day must be a jumping-off point. There are many concrete ways to support organized labor every day:
- Stand with workers on strike and respect picket lines.
- Buy from unionized businesses.
- Share worker campaigns and organizing calls to action on social media.
- Call elected officials and tell them to protect the right to organize, strengthen labor protections, and support policies that create good green jobs.
- If you’re in a workplace, learn your rights, talk with coworkers, and support efforts to build collective power.
May Day is a chance to say plainly that a livable future must also be a just one. The path to climate action runs through solidarity. If we want to protect the planet, we have to stand with the people who power it.
