What to know about May Day demonstrations as workers face rising energy costs due to Iran war

Activists worldwide will march in May Day rallies on Friday, calling for peace, higher wages, and better working conditions. The demonstrations are expected in many of the world's major cities, with rising living costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East being a key theme. In the Philippines' capital, Manila, protest organizers expect big crowds of workers, with a louder call for higher wages and economic relief due to unprecedented spikes in fuel prices. In Indonesia, labor unions have warned against worsening economic pressures at home, with workers already living paycheck to paycheck. Protests are planned from Seoul, Jakarta, and Istanbul to most European Union capitals and cities across the United States. In France, unions called for demonstrations under the slogan 'bread, peace, and freedom,' linking workers' daily concerns to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.