Celebrating International Workers’ Day
Happy May Day!
Every year on the first of May, International Workers’ Day (also recognized as May Day, Labour Day, and Worker’s Day), working people worldwide join hands in their fight for dignity, freedom, and the fruits of their labor. Falling at the same time as ancient rites honoring the season’s turn toward summer, May Day is an international celebration of power in the hands of the people. Here is a sampling of books, zines, and more to help you get in the spirit. Labor is entitled to all it creates! Shop the full list or check out these Microcosm-published favorites below:
History of May Day by Alexander Trachtenberg
This history of the struggle to establish worker rights and the formation of a national day of action offers readers a glimpse at labor history. Includes efforts to corrupt the workers’ movement in the United States, and the attempt to subvert the workers’ movement through the foundation of Labor Day.
On The Books: A Graphic Tale of Working Woes at NYC’s Strand Bookstore by Greg Farrell
This David and Goliath story is a first-hand comic strip account of the labor struggle at NYC’s legendary Strand bookstore in the summer of 2012. Told by Greg Farrell—an employee of the store who interviewed numerous other members of the staff—the book examines the motives and actions of those involved, including the store, the staff, the union local, and the people of New York City.
Punching Out: Solidarity on the Factory Floor by Martin Glaberman
In 1952 Marty Glaberman was a Detroit autoworker who witnessed a series of workers who’d be promoted to steward and become ineffective negotiators. Why? This zine is Glaberman’ attempt to answer to the question asked in every coal mine, worker shop, ship in port, steel mill, and auto plant was forever: was it selfish betrayal or bureaucracy that killed any prospects of solidarity in even the most active union worker?
A People’s History of May Day: 1886-Present by Crimethinc
Connect with the powerful history of May Day, from its origins as an ancient celebration of spring to present-day actions led by workers, anarchists, and communities to uplift labor and people’s history. This zine provides a pocket-sized glimpse into the legacy of this beloved radical holiday, with vignettes of May Day by year, citing specific actions, successes, struggles, and demands from around the globe.
Firebrands: Activists You Didn’t Learn About in School edited by Shaun Slifer and Bec Young, with art from Justseeds
This illustrated history celebrates American changemakers and revolutionaries that are often left out of public narratives about our shared past. These firebrands hail from around the world, from the 1500s to today. Instead of focusing on the powerful, rich white folks so often featured in textbooks, these gorgeous portraits with accompanying biographies recognize the work of grassroots organizers, revolutionaries, visionaries, anarchists, workers, and artists.
P.S. We can’t fit it all here, but check out our Labor tag for more like this.
P.P.S. We also carry a lot of cool and thematically appropriate posters. Hang them on your wall or bring them to the march!
