May Day, or International Worker’s Day – the global counterpart of our beloved Labor Day holiday – proves to be a heated platform for protests and remonstrations again this year as workers lashed out to lament growing economic unrest this past Wednesday.

Although global ‘Labor Day’ movements seemed to start off ‘quietly’ on May 1st this year, news from Europe gradually filtered into the U.S. as images of disgruntled workers overseas captured the attention of Americans stateside. In Paris, the far-right National Front led a rally through the heart of the city, disgruntled with record-high unemployment levels. Spain’s labor unions rallied in over 80 cities.

In Asia, Bangladeshi garment workers paraded through cities demanding safety measures, progressive benefits, and better working conditions – calls to action that were clearly a response to the Bangladesh garment factory building that collapsed about a week ago and killed hundreds. Indonesians, Filipinos, and Cambodians marched in their respective counties bemoaning the skyrocketing cost of living and endless battles with big business. Indonesia, which ranks fourth in the most populous countries in the world, drew tens of thousands of protesters to assemble for increased wages and for the end to outsourcing jobs to contract workers.

Perhaps some of the most controversial news on International Labor Day came from Greece. In a highly visible and publicized country-wide event, thousands of Greeks walked off their jobs – leaving state-owned hospices and clinics to fend for themselves with emergency employees.  Protesters also created massive disturbances for public transportation. Labor Day marked the second calculated strike against Greek government’s austerity processes this year. Greek labor unions have fought against three years of state-backed economic schemas that have increased taxes and cut salaries and pensions.

What are your thoughts on May Day? Voice your thoughts in the comments section below.