May 1, 2025 — May Day Resolution at City Council

RESOLUTION 2025R-138, adopted by council members Chavez, Payne, Wonsley, Rainville, Vetaw, Ellison, Osman, Cashman, Jenkins, Chughtai, Koski, Chowdhury, and Palmisano, officially recognized International Workers Day. 

The following is the complete text of the unpublished summarized resolution:

“Whereas, around the world May 1 is celebrated as International Workers Day – in over 60 countries it is a holiday to recognize struggles for workers’ rights; 

and Whereas, May 1 was first celebrated in the United States in 1886 as part of the struggle for the eight-hour workday, and hundreds of thousands of workers across the country went on strike to demand better working conditions and shorter hours; and City Council Proceedings – May 1, 2025 439 

Whereas, many of the workers who struggled for the eight-hour workday in 1886 were immigrant and Black workers among others who had been previously excluded from the actions around labor and faced repression, discrimination, and violence; and 

Whereas, May 1st celebrations returned to Minneapolis in 2006 because of the dedicated work done by the immigrant rights movement to counter discrimination and human rights violations against immigrants at the national level and strengthen relationship between organized labor and immigrant workers; and 

Whereas, the Minneapolis City Council passed resolutions in 2007 and 2009 recognizing the growing immigrant and workers’ rights rallies in Minneapolis on May 1, which have continued annually through the present year; and 

Whereas, Minneapolis has a long history of immigrant and workers’ rights advocates coming together in the spirit of solidarity; and 

Whereas, immigrants, workers, and their families are an essential and valued component of our Minneapolis community; and 

Whereas, labor unions and the historic and present advocacy of working people has resulted in economic, social, and political transformation for the dignity of all people here in Minneapolis and around the world; 

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by The City Council of The City of Minneapolis: That the Mayor and City Council do hereby recognize May 1, 2025, as International Workers Day in recognition of immigrant and workers’ rights.

On roll call, the result was: Ayes: Payne, Wonsley, Rainville, Vetaw, Ellison, Osman, Cashman, Jenkins, Chavez, Chughtai, Koski, Chowdhury, Palmisano (13) Noes: (0) Absent: (0) Adopted.