On the weekend on May 4-5, across
Scotland and the whole of the world, May Day events will be held. Following a period in which traditional May
Day marches and rallies dwindled, real efforts are being made by Trades Union
Councils and others to rebuild May Day as a major event in Scottish calendar.
Although the origins of May Day
predate 1989, the specific origin of the current May Day holiday lies in the fight for rights at work, and
specifically, an eight-hour working day. In 1890 leaders of the recently formed
socialist Second International called for an international day of protest to be
held at the beginning of May 1890. This
call coincided with the plans of the American Federation of Labor for its own demonstration
on the same date. Thus, while May Day
developed as a wider manifestation and celebration of workers power, it
retained a clear protest element at different times and different places
throughout history.
In the UK, 1 May was made a bank
holiday by the Labour government in 1978 and although in 2011 the Tories were
reported to be considering scrapping May Day, this appears to have faded from
their agenda.
May Day events have varied in size
and significance over recent decades but were particularly important during the
miners’ strike. Scottish May Day events
have also been strongly internationalist in flavour.
This year’s events will bring together two themes. They will highlight the necessary fight
against attacks on workers and trade unions celebrate the role that union reps
play in the workplace, fighting for justice, bargaining for fairness as well as
making a vital contribution to the sustainable growth in the workplaces in
which they operate.
But the events will also highlight the need to unite with
the wisest possible community of interest including those who are campaigning
against attacks on welfare and the hated ‘Bedroom Tax’. Trade unions have
traditionally sought to provide support for such communities and that is
precisely what our Congress agreed to do last month when it pledged to work
alongside the No2Bedroom Tax and other anti-bedroom tax campaigns in seeking to
reverse government policy and to persuade the Scottish Government and local
councils to protect those affected.
Stronger unions and stronger communities is the message. May
Day provides us with opportunity to bring these things together under the
banner of the ‘Better Way’ campaign.
Dave Moxham
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