On December 1, 2012, Mayworks inaugurated the first annual Min Sook Lee Labour Arts Awards which recognizes significant contributions to the arts and labour movement. The awards are named after Min Sook Lee, an activist/artist whose own contributions moved Mayworks Festival towards its current artistic vision of integrating equity-seeking groups as audiences and artists. Lee also helped Mayworks focus on programming that engages new, non-arts audiences, and that which challenges Euro-centric notions of art.
The award for Outstanding Contribution to Labour Arts was presented to Min Sook Lee, an award-winning filmmaker with a long list of documentaries on working class issues, who was presented with the Cesar E. Chavez Black Eagle Award for her documentary, El Contrato, and its impact on the rights of migrant workers.
The Labour Activist Award was presented to Frank Saptel, a member of the International Association of Machinists, and founder and president of the Canadian Labour International Film Festival.
Vincenzo Pietropaolo, a photographer whose body of work includes portraits of migrant workers, Italian immigrants in Toronto, and the Ontario Days of Action, was presented with the Artist Award, for capturing the values of the labour and social Justice movements in his art.
The Steelworkers Toronto Area Council received the Labour Union Award for their innovative strike solidarity work with workers at Infinity Rubber in Toronto and Rio Tinto in Aylmer Quebec.