This Might Day wasn’t nearly reflecting on the struggles of staff—it was about shaping the way forward for labour and local weather justice, collectively.
On Might 1st, 2025, one thing unimaginable occurred. It wasn’t simply one other Might Day rally. No, this was historical past within the making. A second the place staff—gig and platform staff, rickshaw pullers, home staff, building labourers, and waste pickers—got here along with one unified voice, to demand accountability from the largest polluters on the planet. This wasn’t a one-time occasion, it was one thing larger. One thing that may resonate for a really very long time.
The Staff Collective for Local weather Justice (WCCJ) – South Asia was formally launched. And on a busy labour day: 200+ staff didn’t simply come to indicate up—they got here to unite. They got here to be heard. For the primary time, unions that not often cross paths—unions of staff from all walks of life—stood collectively, sharing their struggles, victories, and calling for a fairer world. This was about mobilization to demand accountability.
What adopted was a pact that made historical past.
A Pact for Justice: Make Polluters Pay
On the 139th anniversary of the unique Might Day, 6 unions together with YODHA, Basti Suraksha Manch, Telangana Gig and Platform Staff Union, Gig Staff Affiliation, Amazon India Staff Union and Hawkers Joint Motion Committee—representing over 2.2 lakh staff—signed the “Make Polluters Pay Pact.” For the primary time in historical past, staff—those that are the primary to really feel the warmth of the local weather disaster—demanded accountability from the oil giants. They’re not simply speaking about their very own survival; they’re speaking about justice for all staff who’re impacted by local weather change.
And the motion didn’t cease there. Eight extra unions from throughout South Asia are becoming a member of in, pledging their voices in solidarity: Joint Commerce Union Alliance (Sri Lanka), Youth 4 NDC (Bangladesh), Bangladesh Atmosphere and Improvement Society, Janathakshan (Sri Lanka), Energy Shift (Nepal), Nepalese Youth 4 Local weather Motion, and Bangladesh Centre for Staff Solidarity.
However that wasn’t all.
Sarees for Solidarity: Weaving Messages Throughout Borders
Have you ever ever thought of a saree as a medium for political expression? The saree, historically an emblem of South Asian sisterhood, turned the canvas for one thing deeper. Staff from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh wrote messages of resilience, solidarity, and hope on sarees. These sarees aren’t simply material—they’re witnesses. They’re tales of staff standing collectively, creating a press release of resistance.
The plan? To take these sarees to COP later this yr, turning them into an artwork set up that may inform the world: Labour Justice Is Local weather Justice!
Bringing Lived Experiences to Gentle: The Labouring Via the Local weather Disaster Report
No jargon. No summary discussions. Simply actual tales.
This was the guts of our report, Labouring Via the Local weather Disaster. We didn’t simply current numbers and stats—we instructed tales. Tales of underserved staff who’re going through excessive warmth, rising floods, and unpredictable climate. These voices within the room weren’t simply topics of debate—however as consultants of lived experiences of the overwhelming majority.
On the roundtable dialogue, panelists from Amazon staff, home staff, gig staff, and extra spoke candidly about their every day struggles. One story that stood out was from Neha, a pacesetter of the Amazon India Staff Union, who shared their struggle for correct working situations in warehouses with no cooling and no entry to water. No water, they had been instructed. Think about that. However Neha and her union didn’t again down. They fought for his or her rights, they raised their voices, and so they gained higher situations.
This wasn’t only a victory for Amazon staff—it was a victory for staff in all places who get up and say, we deserve higher.
Media Buzz: From Native to World
This isn’t only a native challenge. That is world. With protection from The Occasions of India, Indian Specific, Behan Field, and All the way down to Earth, the voices of the employees reached far past the rally. And internationally? Al Jazeera revealed our Op-Ed, whereas BBC interviewed our ally Sandeep from Yoddha. That is the ability of unity.
IIt wasn’t simply in regards to the media presence—it was about catalysing a world dialog that places staff’ rights on the heart of the local weather dialogue.
A Second to Have fun
After which, there was the collective vitality. The sense of group. Staff from totally different sectors, areas, and backgrounds coming collectively, sharing tales, laughing, supporting one another. The day was stuffed with humanity—the type of humanity that makes you imagine, even within the hardest instances, that change is feasible.
To each employee, each union, each one who believes that staff are the spine of local weather justice.
That is only the start. Collectively, we rise.
Zindabad!
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