Sunday 2nd May 2010 is May Day, a day where working people, their unions and other organisations come together to highlight their demands and share their struggles.
May Day will be marked on various days in Australian cities (see end of article)
As we march on May Day this year, governments around the world are trying to use the Global Financial Crisis as an excuse to cut social spending while employers strengthen their efforts to attack workers’ wages and conditions.
In Australia it’s an election year and the AMWU and other unions are mobilising to fight any possibility of an Abbott government that will seek to turn back the clock and dish up WorkChoices again under a new name.
An Abbott led Government would be a disaster for the Australian people and would ensure more of the same – more exploitation, more attacks on workers’ rights, more globe destroying pollution, more attacks on democratic and human rights.
The history of May Day is the struggle of working people to achieve a better way of life, decent pay, working conditions and 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 U.S. 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 1888.
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.
We now celebrate International May Day by the holding a march on the first Sunday of every May calling for better wages, working and living conditions, the end to imperialist wars.
The struggle for a better world continues on May Day 2010.
Contact your local AMWU branch to find out about May Day actions in your area or read the details below.
NSW May Day March May 1st
Assemble 12 noon May 1st 2010, Hyde Park North
Rally at First Fleet Park, Circular Clark
Spekers: Ark Tribe – Unionist facing six months in prison at hands of ABCC
Lee Rhiannon – NSW Greens
Andrew Ferguson – State Secretary of the CFMEU
Paul McAleer – Sydney Branch Secretary MUA
NSW Annual May Day Toast
Friday 30th April, 6:30pm
1st Floor, Cyprus Community Club
58-76 Stanmore Road Stanmore
MC: Charmaine O’Sheades
NSW Teachers Federation
Mover:Mark Lennon
Unions NSW
Guest Speakers & Live Band
$35, Three Course Meal and Drinks
Enquiries: 9265 8438
South Australia May Day March and Family Picnic
Saturday 1st May 2010
Victoria Square 10am for 10:30am start - march to Torrens Parade Grounds
Family Picnic from 11.00 am at Torrens Parade Grounds
Kid’s entertainment – clowns, face painting, bouncy castle
Sausage sizzle and other food and community stalls
Speakers include Sharan Burrow, ACTU President
SA Workers Memorial Sunday 2nd May
Workers Memorial @ 10am
Black Diamond Corner
Port Adelaide
BBQ & Beer
Semaphore Workers Club
11.30am to 4.00pm
Victorian Wreath Laying at 8 Hour Day Memorial
THURSDAY 29th April 2010 AT 5PM
At the 8 Hour monument opposite the Victorian Trades Hall (Victoria Parade).
Brief ceremony to commemorate workers’ struggles, including the 8 Hour day struggle. Union speakers, May Day resolution. Laying of donated union wreaths.
Victorian May Day March Sunday 2nd May
Festivities begin at 12 Noon in Lygon St. Carlton (between Victoria and Queensberry)
The May Day March assembles at 1PM, departs 1.30PM on cnr of Victoria & Russell Sts. Opposite Trades Hall, then moves through the city and back to Lygon St. Speakers, activities, stalls etc. May Day Concert. Following the speakers, after the March, entertainment and singing community and working class songs.
QUEENSLAND PUBLIC HOLIDAY MAY 3
BRISBANE May Day March, Monday May 3
- Assemble at cnr Wharf and Turbot Sts for a 10:00am start
- merge into Wickham St
- turn left into Brunswick St
- turn right into St Paul's Tce
- turn left into Brookes St
- turn left into Gregory Tce
- then enter Oval 2 via the back of the main arena
REGIONAL ACTIVITIES The Tree of Knowledge Festival will be held from Friday 30 April to Monday 3 May. Activities and fun galore!! The May Day march will be held on Monday 3 May commencing at 10:00am in Oak St making its way to the Showgrounds for the Tree of Knowledge Goat Races! A march will be held on Monday 3 May at 9:30am with assembly at cnr River and Gregory Sts from 9:00am. The march will be followed by a family fun day at Queens Park with rides, kids races, food and refreshment stalls, face painting and entertainment. Please contact Shane Brunker on 0419 472 325 for further info. MORANBAH A march will be held on Monday 3 May at 10:00am with assembly on Tallon St. The march will proceed to Town Oval where there will be guest speakers, food, kid rides and fireworks. Please contact Trent Deverell (0418 778 556) or Frank Baker (0418 986 349) for further information. A march will be held on Monday 3 May with assembly from 10:00am at Anzac Park, The Strand. The march will proceed to Strand Park where there will be entertainment, kids rides, food stalls, beer tent, races and a tug-o-war. Please contact Margie Dale on 0409 596 260 for further information.
BARCALDINE
BOWEN A march will be held on Monday 3 May with assembly at 9:30am at the Post Office in Powell St. This will be followed by a family fund day at the QRI Hall, Bowen St with jumping castle, face painting, tug-o-war, pollie throwing, BBQ and bar and a home brewing competition.
BUNDABERG A march will be held on Saturday 1 May with assembly at Riverside Parklands at 11:00am. The march will proceed to Anzac Park and the Bundaberg Bowls Club for a barbeque and kids rides. Please contact Greg Purches on 4120 0300 or 0418 194 387 for further information.
CAIRNS A march will be held on Monday 3 May with assembly at Cairns Esplanade opposite Cairns Base Hospital at 10:00am for a 10:15am start. This will be followed by a family fun day with bands, food stalls, drinks tent, kids rides and entertainment including the annual inter-union tug-o-war. For more info contact either Heath Mitchell (LHMU) - 0400 070 316, Kevin O'Sullivan (QPSU) - 0417 646 606 or Stuart Traill (ETU) - 0430 072 049.
EMU PARK A family picnic will be held on Sunday 2 May from 11:00am - 5:00pm at Bell Park. There'll be food and drink stalls, raffles, live band and free lollies, chips and iceblocks for the kids. Also, the famous Doreen Sleeman Memorial Broom Throwing Competition and the Inaugural Harry Sleeman Memorial Sandal Throwing Competition will be held. For more info contact Bruce Craig on 0400 845 974.
IPSWICH A march will be held from 10:00am on Saturday 1 May with assembly from 9:30am at Ellenborough St (between Darling St and Roseberry Pde). The march will proceed to Timothy Maloney Park followed by a family fun day with kids rides, animal farm, face painting, drinks and BBQ. For more info contact David Malley on 3291 4668.
GLADSTONE A march will be held on Monday 3 May from 10:00am with assembly in the Council Chambers car park behind Goondoon St. This will be followed by a family BBQ/picnic day with food, drinks, kids races and entertainment at the Gladstone Marina, Brian Hanson Dve. Please contact Phil Golby on 0419 657 801 for more information.
GOLD COAST A march will be held on Sunday 2 May commencing at 9:00am with assembly at the Southport Workers Club, Scarborough St. The march will proceed to Broadwater Parklands, Southport for celebrations including a sausage sizzle, jumping castle, bands and guest speakers. For further information contact Joy Townsend on 0421 815 545.
MACKAY
MARYBOROUGH A family fun day will be held in Queens Park from 10:00am on Sunday May 2. There will be a jumping castle and merry-go-round for the kids and ice cream and coffee will be for sale. The Maryborough ALP branch will be running a sausage sizzle. Plus, the Model Engineers Live Steamers Association will be providing the small trains. For more info, contact Ron Fossen (QPSU) on 0408 705 153.
ROCKHAMPTON A march will be held on Monday 3 May commencing at 9:00am from Riverside car park, Archer St finishing at Victoria Park, Huish Dve. A family fun day will be held in the park with market stalls, licenced bar, live music, kids rides, face painting, sausage sizzle, holiday giveaway and free multi-draw raffle. Please contact Craig Allen on 4922 5844 or 0419 769 125 for further information.
SUNSHINE COAST A barbeque will be held on Sunday 2 May commencing at 10:30am at Cotton Tree Park with kids activities, speeches and music. Please contact Greg Pitman on 5441 7878 or 0407 163 628 for further information.
TOOWOOMBA A march will be held on Saturday 1 May commencing at 10:00am with assembly behind the Toowoomba City Council Building, cnr Herries and Victoria Sts. A BBQ and bowls day will then be held at the Toowoomba City Bowls Club. Please contact Pat Menz on 0407 031 999 for more information.
TOWNSVILLE
WEIPA A march will be held on Monday 3 May at 9:30am from Boundary Rd (near St Lukes Church) proceeding to Weipa Cricket Club. At the Cricket Club there will be a BBQ, face painting, tug-o-war and a slip ‘n’ slide for the kids. For more info contact Lucynda Maskell on either 40 697459 or 40 698118.