May Day protesters demand better rights for workers

Demonstrators across the globe took to the streets on Tuesday to demand better working conditions, as part of rallies marking International Workers' Day. Seen here are demonstrators at a May Day rally in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday May 1.

By Sheena McKenzie and Sarah Tilotta, CNN

(CNN) -- Demonstrators across the globe took to the streets on Tuesday to demand better working conditions, as part of rallies marking International Workers' Day.

Held on May 1 each year -- known as May Day -- the rallies date back to the 1880s.

At the time, labor movements around the world were campaigning for safeguards such as eight-hour workdays and trade unions. The date of May 1 was chosen as it coincided with the anniversary of the Haymarket affair in Chicago, where police killed four people at a peaceful protest after someone threw a bomb into the crowd.

Today, trade unions and human rights campaigners continue to mark the day with rallies -- here's a look at this year's protests.

What is May Day, anyway?

France

About 1,200 hooded protesters took part in May Day protests, during which a McDonalds restaurant was attacked with a Molotov cocktail, police said.

Photographs show extensive damage to the building, with protesters kicking in smashed windows. Footage also showed damage to a Renault car dealership, as well as other businesses.

Cuba

Philippines

Pakistan

Turkey

Russia

Ukraine

Greece

Bangladesh

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Hong Kong

Chile

India