A global celebration on May Day 2012

GLOBAL: In Istanbul, Turkey, an estimated 500,000 workers and activists marched to historic Taksim Square in the center of the city. The heavy police presence, including a number of check points and searches, didn't spoil the mood of May Day celebrations, which included speeches by union leaders, struggle updates by workers fighting for union representation, and traditional music. Taksim Square is highly symbolic for the Turkish labour movement after 37 workers were murdered on May 1, 1977 when a gunman opened fire. In 2010, after intense pressure, the Turkish government lifted the 32-year ban on May Day in Taksim Square.

In Indonesia thousands of workers, including IMF affiliates FSPMI and LOMENIC, held Asia's biggest May Day rally. With higher living costs unions in Indonesia demand better pay and protection of job security and also to put a stop to outsourcing practices. Protesters carried banners saying "raise our salaries" and "stop outsourcing contracts".

In Mexico more than hundred thousand took to the streets in Zocolo including IMF affiliate Los Mineros and STIMACH .

In Thailand thousands of members of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), national labour federations, union area groups, and the State Enterprises Workers' Relation Confederation (SERC) joined the May Day rally in Bangkok. Workers expressed three urgent demands for government to reduce the cost of living by regulating commodity prices; address all labour right violations related to the flood last year; and support the reform of the labour relations system, under the principles of ILO Conventions 87 & 98, in order to protect workers from all sectors.

In the UK Unite the Union launched Union Solidarity International (USi) which is a tool built around a social media framework to maximize trade union members participation, interest and activity on the latest international issues relating to the movement. For more details click here and visit the website: http://www.usilive.org/