Hundreds of Local 79 members joined well over a thousand workers from various unions to celebrate May Day 2014 with a rally near New York City Hall. Under beautiful sunny skies, labor leaders and politicians spoke about the ongoing struggles faced by working people in New York City. Many spoke of the continuing struggles of working people in an economy that has increasingly seen the largest share of income go to the 1%. At the same time, many speakers voiced  optimism that the climate in New York City for working people and unions has changed due to the election of a new mayor.

Local 79’s Business Manager Mike Prohaska delivered a fiery speech, in which he spoke about the historic origins of May Day and the struggles that continue for working people today. The crowd roared its approval  as Prohaska made it clear that “that fairness and justice for the working people of this country are not negotiable.”

Video of event.