March on May Day
Celebrate May Day with UNITE. Attend the 2007 May Day march.
Assemble 1pm Sunday May 6th at Trades Hall, corner of Victoria and Russell Streets Carlton.
May Day is a day when we celebrate internationalism and working class struggle throughout the world. UNITE would like to send May Day greetings to workers and young people across the globe especially to those who stand with us in the fight to organise the areas of fast food and retail.
Read the article below - May Day a brief history, originally published by the Melbourne May Day Committee.
The history of May Day is a history of the struggle of working people to achieve a better way of life, decent pay, working conditions and for a society that meets the needs of the people.
The international Labour Holiday called May Day, actually originated in the United States in 1884 at a conference of US and Canadian Trade Unions. The conference decided to launch an intensive campaign for the 8-hour day and to culminate the struggle on May 1st 1866.
This campaign led to a bitter struggle. There were 1572 strikes involving 600,000 workers leading up to the May 1″ demonstrations. Over half a million workers took part in the May 1″ activities. Six workers were killed, 200 injured, others framed and hanged.
Subsequently at an International Labour Congress in Paris a resolution was carried to declare May 1″ 1890 a great day of workers International demonstrations throughout the World. Australian delegates were at this conference.
On this day in Australia large demonstrations were held in Queensland in Barcaldine and Ipswich by striking shearers. Over 1000 men took part, some 600 on horseback.
Three years after the first celebrations of May Day saw the adoption of socialism as one of the main aims of May Day and the recognition that workers can never be free of exploitation, injustice, and poverty while capitalism exists.
In Victoria the Day was marked by a meeting at the Trades Hall Council. It was later decided to celebrate International May Day by the holding of a march on the first Sunday of every May calling for better wages, working and living conditions, the end to imperialist wars and for socialism.
May Day marches in Victoria started in 1893 and continued up to today, except for 1941 and 1942 when May Day celebrations were banned by the Menzie’s Government.
The Melbourne May Day Committee has continually made representations to the State Government to declare May 1st a public holiday, but only public awareness, support and pressure will finally achieve this demand.
Until then the May Day March is held traditionally on the first Sunday in May so that all members of the community have the opportunity to take part and demonstrate the broad range of issues that affect them.
UNITE calls on people to attend the May Day march this year to show further opposition to Howard’s IR laws and his attacks on democratic rights.
Other events being held this year to celebrate May Day include.
TUESDAY 1st MAY 5PM
AAWL has organised a reading of international May Day messages at the Eight Hour Monument. Corner of Russell and Victoria Streets
THURSDAY 3RD MAY 5PM
Wreath Laying Ceremony. At the 8 Hour monument opposite the Victorian Trades Hall. Brief ceremony to commemorate workers’ struggles.
FRIDAY 4TH MAY 7PM
Multi Cultural Event at Trades Hall. Cnr Lygon/Victoria Sts, Carlton South.
Speakers and cultural items hosted by a number of Ethnic organisations. Followed by a multicultural smorgasbord.
SUNDAY 6TH MAY 12NOON
May Day March & Family Festival. Corner of Lygon/Victoria Sts Carlton South.
The May Day March assembles at 1PM then moves through the city and back to Lygon St.
SUNDAY 6th MAY
May Day Tea and Concert. Following the speakers, after the March. Entertainment and singing community and working class songs.