May Day as the date to observe the fight for a more equal and fair society.
GMB union celebrates May Day in honour of the struggle of workers.
May Day, 1st May each year, has been an internationally recognised date to basically celebrate.
Different countries and cultures see it as a time to welcome in the Spring and the new life of plants, birds and animals. However the Labour movement have claimed it as their own and to honour the struggle of workers around the world. In 1889 the Second International launched their version of a vision and new beginning and a better future with socialists and communists setting May Day as the date to observe the fight for a more equal and fair society.
Demonstrations and rallies were commonplace in most countries every May 1st for the last 130 years or so. Trade unions and progressive parties joined in marching with flags and banners high through communities and city centres with major rallies gathering to listen to speeches, sing socialist songs and show off their campaigning materials with stalls and posters.
Although not on the scale of past years in respect of scale, many cities host the celebrations and the GMB trade union will be out and about across the UK this year highlighting the need to be in a good union and to vote for a progressive party in the forthcoming elections.
Paul Holleran
Education Officer
GMB union
North West & Irish Region
