May Day Celebration Marches in Britain Reject Austerity and Affirm the Agenda for the Working Class

Marches and meetings in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland celebrating May Day 2014 demonstrated the fighting spirit of unity in action to defeat the austerity agenda being imposed on the working class and people.

In this issue we are posting reports from our own correspondents and from around the Internet of the May Day events which rejected austerity and affirmed the agenda of the working class to defend the rights of all, and fight for decision-making power, for justice and a future without war.

As the Party’s May Day call said:

“On this May Day, our Party gives the call to the working class and all working people to unite in action. The goal is to deprive the owners of capital and their representatives of the power to disempower the people from being the decision-makers.”

“This is a profoundly political struggle, a school of the working class and people for running a modern economy, a modern society. The task in the coming year is to become still more powerful and effective in challenging the marginalisation of the people from economic, political and social affairs.”

“The advanced forces can also unite to build the political party of the working class, a mass communist party, whose outlook is modern communism, in the midst of the intensifying struggles of the working class and people.”

“The fight for the alternative remains the overall task at hand. May First is an occasion to reaffirm this struggle in the context of the present concrete conditions. The working class and people will prevail if they set their sights on becoming the decision-makers and persist in their struggles.”

LONDON, May 1

Many thousands participated in the traditional London May Day march and rally, the numbers swelled this year with many militant contingents from RMT branches. The RMT National Executive had taken the decision to make the London May Day a national mobilisation for the union. As with many of the events around May Day this year, the march and rally honoured Bob Crow, the late leader of the RMT union, as well as the late Tony Benn.

As a tribute to Bob Crow, and for the information of our readers, we give this link to Bob Crow’s last speech in Ireland at the Jim Connell Festival in Crossakiel, Co Meath, May 5, 2013:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfAIR0q4hSQfeature=player_detailpage

The joint Chairs of the rally in Trafalgar Square were Martin Gould, President SERTUC (South East Regional TUC), and Linda Kietz, President GLATUC (Greater London Association of Trades Union Councils).

Natasha Hoarau, the daughter of Bob Crow, drew huge applause when she said that she was to take his place as a candidate in the Euro elections. She said, “He would have been so proud of the solidarity among us today. It has not been an easy time for the family, but we are comforted to see so many people displaying so much passion.” She said that she would think of her father every time she sees someone in a flat cap, describing Bob as “inspirational and courageous”. Bob Crow’s widow, Nicky, was also at the head of the march from Clerkenwell Green to Trafalgar Square. RMT president Peter Pinkney also called on everyone to condemn the government’s austerity policies. His speech was followed by a video on the huge screen of some of Bob Crow’s speeches.

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn declared that Mayday represents people demonstrating for change all over the world, fighting for a better world, human rights against brutal exploitation, profit and war. Jeremy Corbyn ended by saying that International Workers’ Day is for the whole world, a world free of the power of the rich and war, which can only be achieved by the working class. Following was a video commemorating Tony Benn, after which Johnny Amodi sang The Ballad of Joe Hill.

The General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, in an unusually fighting speech on behalf of the TUC welcomed everyone present: workers, pensioners, students. She hailed Mayday, declaring “this is our day”. The ruling class want to see us divided, she said, but “Are we united?” (cheers), “Are we strong?” (cheers). Frances O’Grady said that we are fighting for solidarity and peace. No child should have to rely on a food bank. The five richest families have more money than the 10 million poorest. Bob Crow, she declared, was not afraid to fight and call strikes when needed. A living wage only achieved through strike action, and the TUC back RMT 100 per cent. Boris had promised that no ticket office would close. We demand too little. What we want is peace, equality, solidarity: unite and we will win!

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the Union, stressed the international spirit and significance of May Day. “Millions of working people world-wide are celebrating our class, our values. We have massively more in common with workers in far off countries than we do with our bosses here,” he said. He expressed himself delighted that the RMT are continuing the fighting spirit of Bob Crow.

Len McCluskey continued: “This government is taking away everything our forebears fought for and won – the welfare state, the NHS. We need to raise the consciousness of the working class.” He emphasised that “solidarity runs through our veins, something the ruling class does not and cannot understand.” Len expressed international solidarity with the people of Venezuela fighting against US imperialist infiltration, and with the people of Palestine. “The capitalist media say we cannot win but the message around the world is that we have a world to win – man’s inhumanity to man replaced with the common good. Believe in your values, together we can achieve a better world!” he concluded.

Lucile Harvey, of Unite the Union young workers said that young people are under attack from the austerity agenda. Housing benefit is being taken away, university fees trebled and the youth forced to do unpaid labour. “We are becoming a ‘lost generation’,” she said. “But we can change it; we must be engaged and organised, join our trade union and be politically active and organise in our place of work. Trade unions have a role in educating and training young people.”

Other speakers at the rally, many of whom spoke in the pouring rain, were Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary of PCS, Robert Mkwezalamba, the general secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union of Malawi, Dot Gibson, general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, John Hendy QC of the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom, Sam Fairburn, general secretary of the People’s Assembly, and Oktay Cimpalat of Day-Mer.

The publicity of the London May Day Organising Committee reminded us that Tony Benn had said in December 2013: “Make next May Day an uprising against austerity.”

SOUTH TYNESIDE, May 1

The South Tyneside May Day event in the Jarrow Alberta Social Club was this year a resounding success. The attendance was notable. It brought together many of the most active workers and activists in the community on the Stop the War front, the Public Service Alliance, the People’s Assembly and others under the one banner of May Day. Kevin McHugh, vice President of PCS, and Mathew Giles of the South Tyneside People’s Assembly spoke.

The Chair spoke about the importance of getting people to support the public service workers in that in defending themselves they are defending the general interests of society and especially challenging the marginalisation of people not just from the affairs of public services but from all economic, political and social affairs. There is a big attack on the unemployed and those on benefits and it has been reported that 37% of the unemployed have had their benefits stopped in the borough. “Workers of All Countries, Unite!” means that in all our struggles, the Chair said, we set our sites on becoming the decision-makers in society.

NEWCASTLE, May 3

It was a glorious day to start the May Day march and rally in Newcastle, the theme of which was “Fight for our Future!”. Music on the march was performed by Backworth Colliery Band. The demonstration marched from Princess Square to a rally at the City Stadium. Speakers included TUC regional secretary Beth Farhat, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers Kevin Courtney and Fire Brigades Union regional secretary Pete Wilcox. Martin Levy, chairman of Tyne & Wear May Day Committee which organised the event, said: “We are showing solidarity with working people across the world who are struggling to defend their interests.” On behalf of the Newcastle Stop the War Coalition, Roger Nettleship condemned the Anglo-US interference in Syria and the Ukraine. He finished with the call that we should all work together for a future without war and to bring about an anti-war government in Britain.

EDINBURGH, May 3

Edinburgh’s 2014 May Day march and rally attracted hundreds of people. The many various groups included pro-independence campaigners, anti-war groups, Palestine Solidarity, opposition to welfare cuts, opposition to Trident and hostility to privatisation of essential services.

There were banners from across Scotland and from Berwick upon Tweed in Northumberland. There was entertainment from the Stockbridge Pipe band and the varied march set off from the Hub (a former church and now a venue at the Edinburgh Festival) at the top of the Royal mile along the Lawnmarket, the High Street down the Royal Mile across the Bridges and down St Mary’s Street to the Pleasance Courtyard and Theatre.

The assembly of around 300 made their way in to the Pleasance Theatre to listen to a number of speakers compered by comedienne Susan Morrison.

Welsh May Day celebrations of workers’ struggles

In Cardiff, 250 marched across the city centre to a rally in the Temple of Peace which opened with a minute's applause in memory of Bob Crow and Tony Benn. Cerith Griffiths, Wales Chair of the Fire Brigades Union, outlined the current struggle of fire-fighters to defend their pensions before leaving the rally with his comrades to join picket lines as FBU members walked out in the second day in the three days of industrial action.

There were inspiring speeches from Steve Skelly from the RMT and Fran Heathcote from the PCS who outlined the struggle of their members. Steve Skelly lambasted the Tories but also Labour, calling for support for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in most elections and for No2EU – Yes to Workers Rights in the European elections.

In the Swansea Trades Council’s May Day rally, the first guest speaker was Tyrone O’Sullivan, of the South Wales NUM during the miners’ strike and leader of the workers’ co-operative at Tower Colliery. Tower colliery as Tyrone explained, proved not only that Tory lies about the viability of the coal industry were just that – lies, but also that workers can run their industries better than the bosses. Swansea West Labour MP, Geraint Davies, congratulated the Visteon Pensions Action Group (VPAG), which, after five years hard campaigning, may be close to achieving a measure of justice. Plaid Cymru AM, Bethan Jenkins, was unable to be there in person but had sent greetings and passed on her congratulations to the campaigners as well. VPAG members are considering an offer and are legally bound not to discuss the details or campaign on the issue while the offer is under consideration but representative Mike Guard, thanked local politicians, trades unionists and the Trades Council for the support they have received in the last five years.

BELFAST, May 4

The annual ICTU (Irish Congress of Trades Unions) May Day rally and parade gathered at Writers’ Square near St Anne’s Cathedral at 11.30am for speeches followed by a march through the city centre.

DUBLIN, May 1

May Day was celebrated in Dublin with a colourful and musical march from the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, to Liberty Hall. Over 1,000 trade unionists and community activists attended the Dublin Council of Trade Unions march which was led by the Spectacle of Defiance of Hope, the community arts group, with posters showing the brutal effects of austerity of local communities.

The SIPTU (Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union) contingent carried colourful trade union banners and was led by the Fintan Lalor Pipe Band. Other unions marching included Unite, Mandate (the retail workers trade union), the CWU and ASTI (Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland).

Speaking outside Liberty Hall on behalf of the SIPTU Youth Workers Sector, community worker Lynda Scully, said: “We have the best workers in our youth centre, and how have we rewarded them? With pay cuts and redundancies. This is what austerity means for the community sector. The Government is planning to privatise community programmes. We want community services delivered on the basis of need, not for the profit of some private company.”

President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, Mick O’Reilly, also addressed the rally calling on the Irish government to change economic course, stating that “under the cloak of austerity, Irish workers’ terms and conditions have been under attack since the beginning of the economic crisis”.