For those of you who haven't taken history or political science classes in a few years, here's why this so-called "Mass Sickout" is on Friday, May 1st.
Since 1886, May 1st is observed by socialists and communists as International Workers Day, Communist May Day, Labor (Labour) Day, or May Day. Labor union advocates originally created these days .
In nations like the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, People's Republic of China and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (which in theory govern as advocates and protectors of workers rights - i.e. "dictatorship of the proletariat"), May Day observances include marches and parades claiming to represent accomplishments of workers and their victory over capitalism, plus celebrating their nation's military might in standing up against so-called capitalist, fascist and imperialist aggressors.
In many other nations including most of the EU, at the behest of labor activists, May 1st is widely observed as the Labor Day legal holiday. It's a civil holiday, NOT specifically for political or ideological purposes. In Canada and the United States, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September. Ironically, unlike the EU countries where Labor Day is widely observed, in the USA most retail stores including Target are open for business on Labor Day. Target store TMs earn time-and-a-half for hours worked on the Labor Day holiday.
Hopefully this explains the timing of the so-called "Mass Sickout". P.S. Just to be clear, very few labor union members or activists are "socialists" or "communists". This is not meant to be "red baiting" against union advocates. Socialist and communist groups tend to interject themselves into labor movement issues as part of their ideological agenda.