By Ava Blando, Smith College

Tomorrow, unions and their allies—including us, students—will mark May Day 2026 with bold actions across the country. Why does it matter for students to take action alongside unions this May Day?

Amidst the threat of authoritarianism in the United States, May Day 2026 is about strengthening pillars of resistance to Trump’s violence and the billionaires backing it. These pillars of resistance are nothing but people-power: organized groups of individuals taking action together. As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers.

Unions are a quintessential example of people-power. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions declared its campaign to win an 8-hour workday by May 1, 1886. When that day arrived, hundreds of thousands of workers from multiple sectors walked off their jobs in protest, marking the first May Day nearly 140 years ago.

Despite police violence, unionized workers from all trades won the labor rights many of us take for granted today: 8-hour workdays, weekends, child labor laws, and more. Workers globally now celebrate May 1 as International Worker’s Day.

Yet, in 2026, employees are still dying on the floor of Amazon warehouses. Companies continue weaponizing our violent immigration system to get away with wage theft. These are policy failures driven by a corrupt and ineffective government, led by a wannabe-dictator and his rich friends. The one recourse we have, our elections, are now increasingly rigged by billionaires, corporate interests, and their Super PACs.

Tech billionaires are working overtime to force generative AI into the workplace, paving the way for mass automation and unemployment in our future. That is the workforce we are entering. Student solidarity with unions is not only natural at this time, it is critical.

South Africans ended apartheid with the power of a United Democratic Front, a single organization joining students, labor unions, community groups, and activists. Their unity was their strength. By building worker-student solidarity this May Day, we are building our own pro-democracy front.

This May Day is an opportunity to build stronger connections between the pillars of people-power: labor unions, students, academics, artists, legislators. It’s also an opportunity to show support for unions and to strengthen our student pillar with the resources and inspiration to continue on.

This May Day, think:

How can your May Day plan build power and solidarity?

• Some campuses are inviting unions, affinity groups, community activists, or local legislators to participate in their May Day events.
• Others are using the day as an opportunity to take action on important local issues through direct protest at state legislatures or administrative buildings on campus.

What is the student pillar missing right now? What would make it stronger?

• Campuses like Georgetown, Howard, and UMass will be utilizing music and art to inspire their communities this May Day. See (here) for a guide to doing the same.