2014 May Day protests

International economic protests April 2026 2014 May Day protests 1 May 2014 Worldwide Austerity measures Poor working conditions Tax hikes Low wages Unemployment Demonstration Occupation Protest march Civil disobedience Rioting Ended Skilled and unskilled workersTrade unionists Police officersGendarmes Millions 2,000,000 in Russia 300,000 in Italy 100,000 in France 50,000 in Malaysiahttp://www.malaysiakini.com/news/261548 Over 50k throng anti-GST May Day rally Malaysiakini 1 May 2014 33,000 in Indonesia 20,000 in Greece 15,000 in Germanyhttp://libcom.org/news/mayday-2014-reports-around-world-01052014 Mayday 2014: reports from around the world Libcom.org 1 May 2014 14,000 in Switzerland 10,000 in Taiwan Tens of thousands in Morocco and Ukraine 5,000 in Hong Kong and South Korea 3,000 in Venezuela 1,000 in Cambodia Thousands in Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Iran, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States 400 in Singapore Hundreds in Armenia and Serbia Dozens in Iraq 40,000 in Istanbul18,000 in JakartaHundreds in Phnom Penh 2 90 in Istanbul5 in Phnom Penh 142 in Istanbul The 2014 May Day protests were a series of international protests involving millions of people that took place worldwide on May Day (1 May 2014) over the ongoing global economic crisis including austerity measures and poor working conditions. Africa Morocco Tens of thousands of Moroccans marched demanding better wages and condemning a new 10 percent salary hike to the minimum wage in the private sector as insufficient. Asia Bangladesh Thousands of workers in Bangladesh, including many from garment factories, took to the streets demanding the execution for the owner of a building that collapsed last year, killing more than 1,100 laborers in the worst disaster the garment industry had seen.http://bigstory.ap.org/article/may-day-rallies-demand-reform-5-hurt-cambodia May Day rallies demand reform; 5 hurt in Cambodia Associated Press 1 May 2014 Cambodia Nearly 1,000 factory workers and supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party gathered outside the Phnom Penh's Freedom Park, which had been sealed off with barbed wire with hundreds of police on guard. At least five people were injured after security forces armed with sticks and batons turned on protesters. Hong Kong According to organisers, up to 5,000 workers in Hong Kong joined the Labor Day march, calling for improved working conditions and for the government to restrict the number of working hours.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/05/protests-mark-may-day-around-world-20145183733534514.html Protests mark May Day around the world Aljazeera 1 May 2014 Indonesia A major protest was held in Jakarta, where 33,000 people marched peacefully through the city centre. According to Rikwanto, police spokesman, 18,000 police officers were deployed on the streets to avoid conflicts. Iran Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told thousands of laborers gathered to celebrate International Workers' Day in the capital, Tehran, that he supports the establishment of unions "free of any interference by the state". Iraq Dozens of people, mostly members of the Iraqi Communist Party, held a rally near the party headquarters in downtown Baghdad, raising Iraqi flags and those of the former Soviet Union. Malaysia May Day anti-GST rally 2014 Thousands of Malaysians held a peaceful protest on the streets of Dataran Merdeka, in downtown Kuala Lumpur, against a looming goods and services tax that they fear will increase the cost of living. During the protest, there were reported several minor scuffles started by fringe youth groups.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/may-day-rallies-around-the-world-live-updates Tear gas fired in Istanbul as May Day rallies held around world The Guardian Mark Tran 1 May 2014 Philippines In the Philippines, thousands of workers marched peacefully in Manila to protest low wages and employers' practice of replacing regular employees with temporary hires who get low pay and little or no benefits. They also decried what they said was the failure of President Benigno Aquino III to deliver on his anti-corruption and pro-poor reforms. Taiwan More than 10,000 workers marched to the labor ministry in Taiwan's capital Taipei demanding wage hikes and a ban on companies hiring cheap temporary or part-time workers.https://www.timesofisrael.com/turkish-police-clash-with-may-day-protesters/ Turkish police clash with May Day protesters The Times of Israel 1 April 2014 Turkey Police intervened with water cannons and tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators that tried to defy the interdiction to meet on 1 May in Taksim Square, Istanbul, emblematic for anti-government protests in Turkey.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27234646 Turkey May Day protests hit by tear gas near Taksim Square BBC News 1 May 2014 Riot police assaulted, using vehicles equipped with water cannons, demonstrators who tried to force the barrages in Beşiktaş district to reach the neighboring Taksim Square.http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2014/05/01/demonstrators-insisting-on-taksim-clash-with-police Demonstrators insisting on Taksim clash with police Daily Sabah 1 May 2014 Areas around the European centre of Turkish metropolis were transformed into fortified camp and tens of thousands of police officers – up to 40,000 according to Turkish media – were mobilized to prevent access.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Apr-30/254962-thousands-to-defy-may-day-ban-on-turkeys-taksim-square.ashx#axzz30SdnLPU6 Thousands to defy May Day ban on Turkey's Taksim Square The Daily Star Dilay Gundogan 1 May 2014 According to the Istanbul Governor's Office, at least 142 protesters have been detained by police and 90 people, 19 of whom are police officers, have been injured during the protests.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-protests-idUSBREA4005520140501 Riot police clash with May Day protesters in Istanbul Reuters Ayla Jean Yackley, Evrim Ergin 1 May 2014 Similar demonstrations took place in more than 30 provinces of Turkey, including the capital Ankara.http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/live-police-use-water-cannons-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets-in-istanbuls-tense-may-day.aspx?pageID=238&nID=65820&NewsCatID=339 Police use water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets in Istanbul's tense May Day Hürriyet Daily News 1 May 2014 Europe France According to authorities, nearly 100,000 people attended the Labor Day rallies in France, with the biggest rallies in Paris and other major cities such as Bordeaux and Toulouse. The demonstrations targeted the savings plan of 50 billion euros announced by Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Greece Nearly 20,000 Greeks marked May Day by demonstrating against government reforms which they say have hurt workers through layoffs and wage cuts.http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/01/greek-workers-turn-out-on-may-day-to-protest-against-reforms-and-austerity/ Greek workers use May Day to protest against reforms and austerity Euronews 1 May 2014 Italy In Turin, scuffles broke out between police and hundreds of protesters. Activists lobbed smoke bombs at police, who charged demonstrators in the northern industrial city, which has been badly hit by a two-year recession. It was less violent in Rome, where 300,000 people packed into a huge, free May Day concert organized by trade unions.http://thecairopost.com/news/108874/news/tear-gas-at-turkish-may-day-protests-red-square-rally-draws-100000 https://web.archive.org/web/20140502073237/http://thecairopost.com/news/108874/news/tear-gas-at-turkish-may-day-protests-red-square-rally-draws-100000 dead 2 May 2014 Tear gas at Turkish May Day protests, Red Square rally draws 100,000 The Cairo Post 1 May 2014 Thousands of people also took part in a peaceful demonstration called by the main trade unions in Pordenone near Venice, where the closure of a nearby washing machine plant owned by Sweden's Electrolux has put 1,300 jobs at risk.http://www.nst.com.my/latest/thousands-protest-against-unemployment-in-italy-1.584503 Thousands protest against unemployment in Italy New Straits Times 1 May 2014 Russia thumb|200px|In Saint Petersburg, the May Day rally turned into a protest against Russian military intervention in Ukraine. Over 100,000 attended a protest march from the Red Square to the State Historical Museum in Moscow, reviving a tradition last seen before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The event was organized by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia.May 2023 Labour union organisers said that a total of 2 million people had attended similar rallies around the country. Serbia Various labour groups staged a protest in Belgrade in order to voice their concern over the expected austerity measures announced by Serbia's new government.http://o.canada.com/news/photos-may-day-and-international-labour-day Photos: May Day and International Labour Day Canada.com 1 May 2014 Spain Rallies were held in more than 70 Spanish cities. In Madrid, thousands marched through the city centre waving signs demanding an end to austerity measure and criticising the government over a perceived lack of focus on job creation. Switzerland In Switzerland's financial capital Zurich, about 14,000 people turned out in support of a move to fix the minimum wage at 4,000 Swiss francs ($4,500, €3,300) which will be put to a referendum this month. Ukraine thumb|200px|May Day demonstration in Odesa In Odesa, May Day rallies have turned into anti-government protests. Clashes have broken out between protesters and police in Donetsk as separatists attempted to storm the prosecutor's office.http://news.sky.com/story/1252895/ukraine-may-day-protesters-fight-with-police Ukraine May Day Protesters Fight With Police Sky News 1 May 2014 United Kingdom Thousands of activists attended a May Day rally in honour of veteran political campaigner Tony Benn and rail union leader Bob Crow who died within days of each other in March.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/may-day-activists-in-london-honour-bob-crow-and-tony-benn-as-international-workers-day-protests-turn-violent-in-turkey-and-cambodia-9310844.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/may-day-activists-in-london-honour-bob-crow-and-tony-benn-as-international-workers-day-protests-turn-violent-in-turkey-and-cambodia-9310844.html 1 May 2022 subscription May Day: Activists in London honour Bob Crow and Tony Benn as International Workers' Day protests turn violent in Turkey and Cambodia The Independent Rob Williams 1 May 2014 North America United States Thousands of community advocates and immigrant rights supporters marched for worker rights and immigrant justice in downtown Los Angeles. Three different May Day marches were planned by three different groups. As a result of the marches, some downtown streets were closed.http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/May-Day-Protests-Marches-Downtown-Los-Angeles-Immigration-Reform-Workers-Rights-257479671.html Thousands Expected to Attend Downtown LA May Day Marches NBC Southern California Samia Khan, Toni Guinyard 1 May 2014 See also List of protests in the 21st century References Category:2014 protests Category:May Day protests