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Thousands of workers, including strong participation from Unifor members, took to the streets of Montreal on May 2, 2026, alongside other unions, community groups and student organizations under the banner “Rights trampled. We must resist,” marking International Workers’ Day and pushing back against attacks on workers’ rights.
This year, the main Montreal May Day demonstration was held on May 2 to allow broader participation and the response was clear: workers are mobilized and ready to stand together.
Participants denounced measures by the Quebec government that undermine workers’ rights, as well as cuts to public services, privatization and the rising cost of living that continues to put pressure on working families.
“When governments attack workers’ rights and weaken public services, people respond,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec director. “What we saw in Montreal is a strong and united message: workers, community groups and student movements are standing together to defend our rights and build a fairer future.”
International Workers’ Day is rooted in the historic struggle for fair working conditions and continues to serve as a moment to reaffirm the importance of collective action in defending workers’ rights.
“May Day is about our history, but it’s also about our future,” added Cloutier. “We will continue to organize, mobilize and fight for good jobs, strong public services and respect for all workers.”
