Chicago labor and immigrants' right activists will gather tomorrow on the South Side to begin preparing for a possible May 1 march in support of workers.

"May 1 is celebrated all over the world, except here," says Martin Unzueta, an organizer for the Chicago Workers Collaborative.

Previously, Chicago was home to large-scale immigration marches on March 10. The collaborative is working with organizers of those events to hold a combined march on May Day.

The groups are particularly concerned about the plight of workers because of the recession. The economy shed 651,000 jobs in February, bringing the total number of unemployed workers to 12.5 million.

Tomorrow's event will take place at Azteca Mall, 3200 S. Kedzie Ave. It will include panels on health, education and housing issues. Workers from United Electrical Workers Local 1110 are also expected to attend and discuss their successful efforts to secure benefits and wages from now-defunct Republic Windows and Doors.

Orlando Sepulveda, an activist who helped coordinate the forum, says it's critical for workers to connect immigration, the economy and health care, in order to revive the movement toward comprehensive immigration reform.

But it is unclear how the May 1 plan will play out. Sepulveda says plans are still underway, but the March 10 organizers have not committed to particpating yet.

"We hope to come away with a plan," says Sepulveda.

Mark Meinster, international organizer with United Electrical Workers, is among the panelists and will discuss the impact of the economic recession on local workers.

"We are living in a time where all workers are feeling economic insecurities," says Meinster, "whether at home through foreclosure or at work through layoffs."