Mayday 2002: Let us arise!

From The Starry Plough
Apr. 2002

This year, Mayday 2002 marks the 116th year since the first international workers day or Mayday back in 1886. On May 1st of that year, the American Federation of Labour called a General Strike in support of an eight-hour day.

During a picket at a factory whose workers were on strike, the cops murdered some days later in Chicago four labour activists. In response, a local workers paper called a mass demonstration and rally to be held in the Haymarket area of the city the following evening. During the demonstration a police agent threw a bomb into the middle of the crowd killing several workers and cops.

The attack was then used by authorities to discredit the growing Labour movement. As many strikers and labour activists were arrested and tortured with eight of them finally being wrongfully charged for the bombing. As a result four were hanged, one committed suicide and three spent seven years in prison before receiving a pardon for a crime they did not even commit. The campaign for an eight-hour day was stepped up and on July 14th 1889 in Paris the International Labour Congress adopted May 1st as a "workers holiday".

A spokesperson for the I.R.S.P. said: As we begin a new millennium, the class war remains basically the same. Middle class bosses on the attack and successive Trade Unions still fail to fight back effectively for our class.

Instead they, like the left generally, are only seen leaving their offices once a year to dust off their mouldy banners to parade them through the streets inflicting meaningless speeches by boring well paid union officials.

The I.R.S.P. spokesperson added, what hope does this give those of our class who they are supposed to represent?

The truth is that most workers are either afraid to take action where they work as many feel they can't win, even though the rank-and-file membership is what Trade Unions are supposed to be all about.

The unions today continue to seek to soften the edges of capitalism rather than do away with it all together.

At present we have numerous workplace disputes around the country. Postal workers have brought thousands onto the streets of the north against sectarian threats and murder by fascists.

As republican socialists we are playing our part in encouraging the fight back against sectarianism, continual job destruction and encouraging workplace militancy.

International Workers Day like the labour movement itself must be taken back from the parasites such as those comfortable union officials who at the end of the day have a vested interest in the system.

For the I.R.S.P., the future of the labour movement lies not with those hidden in offices but in reclaiming its hidden past and openly creating a real fighting alternative which has got to be republican socialism.

Lastly we call on all republican socialsts to turn out in strength in every town and city throughout the country celebrating May Day to add our support for workers in struggle.

"The great only appear great because we are on our knees -- let us arise!"

Last update: 5/4/02; 6:42:33 PM.