May Day Rallies Held Around the World

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Workers around the world are taking to the streets Wednesday to mark International Workers Day, also known as May Day, with marches and calls for higher pay and better working conditions.

A May Day labor union strike in Greece has disrupted ferry service to the Greek islands and public transportation in Athens where demonstrators are protesting against prolonged economic austerity policies.

Workers across Spain, where the unemployment rate has rocketed to 27 percent, are holding rallies to call for economic policy changes.

In the Philippines, demonstrators are marching in Manila to demand the government protect their jobs. They also want the government to stop hiring contract workers who do not enjoy the same rights and securities of regular, full-time employees.

Laborers in Cambodia are calling on lawmakers to increase the minimum wage for garment workers.

Police in Istanbul, Turkey Wednesday clashed with people marching towards Taksim Square, the usual site of May Day celebrations.

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（来源：VOA 编辑：Julie）