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Labour Day / May Day: 4-6 May 2024

Labour Day/May Day provides us an opportunity to celebrate the struggle, collective action and strength shown by our fellow unionists throughout history, which have led to the improved wages and conditions we have today.

It is also a reminder that we must stay vigilant and continue to work as a collective to protect and improve those conditions going into the future.

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This year, IEU-QNT members will celebrate in the following locations (RSVP below):

SATURDAY, 4 MAY

  • Bundaberg: Meet @ 10am at Riverside Parklands – Quay St, Bundaberg for the parade to Bundaberg Bowls Club.
  • Ipswich: Meet @ 12:30pm at Timothy Moloney Park – Ellenborough St, Woodend for the parade followed by family-friendly activities.
  • Toowoomba: Event starts at 10am for the flag raising at the Village Green, Ruthven St, next to Art Gallery. Meet @ 10:30am at Cnr Neil St and Hall Lane, Toowoomba for parade to the Armitage Centre, 54 Neil St followed by family-friendly activities.

SUNDAY, 5 MAY

  • Gold Coast: Meet @ 9:30am at Pratten Park – Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach for the parade followed by family-friendly activities.
  • Maryborough: Meet @ 10.00am at Waterside Workers Hall – Wharf St, Maryborough for the parade.


MONDAY, 6 MAY

  • Alice Springs: Meet @ 9am at carpark across from the Old Memorial Club for the parade.
  • Brisbane: Meet @ 9:30am outside IEU-QNT office at 346 Turbot Street, Spring Hill for parade to Brisbane Showgrounds followed by food, music, rides and family-friendly fun.
  • Cairns: Meet @ 9:30am at Fig Tree Park on the Esplanade, (near Hemmingways Brewery) for the parade followed by family-friendly activities.
  • Darwin: Meet @ 9:30 am at 38 Woods St, Darwin for the parade.
  • Townsville: Meet @ 9:30am at Strand Park – The Strand, Townsville for the parade followed by family-friendly activities.

All IEU members, their families and friends are welcome to attend the celebrations.

Make sure to wear your IEU t-shirt from past years or simply collect and wear one of our new 2024 Labour Day/May Day t-shirts on the day.

Labour Day/May Day 2024 RSVP

Where it all began

The foundation of a day to mark the struggle and achievement of workers stems from the May Day Haymarket riots in Chicago on 4 May 1884, which resulted in the death and wounding of some in attendance and the ultimate wrongful conviction and execution of four unionists.

In 1889, a proposal was made to establish a day to recognise the anniversary of the Chicago protests.

As a result, 1 May each year is known as International Workers’ Day.

In Queensland, the antecedent of Labour Day began in Barcaldine in 1891 after the Shearer’s Strike was declared in response to the actions of the Pastoralists’ Federal Council who sought to increase profits by employing non-union shearers on individual contracts for lower rates of pay.

Union workers established strike camps in towns near shearing sheds, with one of the largest camps near Barcaldine.

On 1 May 1891, more than 1,300 striking workers marched through the town as part of the dispute – marking a historic event for Australian workers.

In 1901 the first Monday of each May was declared a public holiday in Queensland and was formally recognised as Labour Day from 1912.

In the Northern Territory, the celebration is known as May Day, and is also marked by a public holiday on the first Monday in May of each year.