(WXYZ) — Friday is May Day, also known as International Workers' Day with people around the world celebrating workers' rights.
This year, essential workers are expected to protest for better working conditions due to COVID-19, but not in large groups.
Target is one of the places employees may participate in a May Day strike, nationally. These protests have often been about improving worker's health and safety conditions.
Major retailers like Amazon, Whole Foods, Walmart, as well as hospitals, are among a handful of the places employees are expected to either walk off the job or call in sick today.
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A month ago, workers at Amazon in New York City staged a walkout, as well as 10,000 Instacart workers. Employees at Whole Foods also called in sick en masse.
Making a point that quality work conditions and their lives matter. Now, more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. They're also pushing for hazard pay and sick leave.
Traditionally, labor unions and non-labor alike would have marched or picketed on May Day. But this year, social distancing puts large gatherings on hold.
Instead, frontline workers are expected to skip their shifts.
Citizens are also becoming upset they can't go back to work or operate their business.
In Lansing Thursday, protestors demanded the governor loosen shelter in place orders, so they could start making a living once again.
Amazon released this statement in the response to the expected strike:
"While we respect people's right to express themselves, we object to the irresponsible actions of labor groups in spreading misinformation and making false claims about amazon during this unprecedented health and economic crisis. We have gone to extreme measures to understand and address this pandemic."
Many companies have put in place safety measures to counter COVID-19... Including providing p-p-e and some are doing temperature checks.
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