Log in

View Full Version : May Day 2010 thread



Communist
27th February 2010, 17:20
.
Lively meeting launches May Day 2010
Feb 26, 2010


http://www.workers.org/2010/us/mayday_0304.jpg (http://www.workers.org/2010/us/may_day_0304/)

An energetic and promising meeting to launch May Day 2010 was hosted by the Transport Workers Union Local 100 (http://www.twulocal100.org/) and its leadership at their union hall in New York on Feb. 18.

The meeting was sponsored by the May 1 Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights, which has organized major marches on May 1 every year since 2006.

Organizers at the meeting counted 97 people in attendance, with every region of the world represented — from Africa, Asia, and Central and Latin America, including Haiti, to the African Diaspora in the U.S.

Participants included members of a number of community, social justice, workers’ and political left organizations, as well as individuals representing unorganized labor, women and youth.

Women played the largest role in the organization and facilitation of the meeting.

Many were moved by the sight of a meeting that expressed so much unity, as well as the desire to participate in class struggle, working-class internationalism and multinational solidarity.

The meeting not only discussed organizing for May 1 in the context of immigrant and worker rights, but also in the context of the day’s radical anti-capitalist and socialist traditions.

May Day is annually honored around the world as International Workers’ Day on May 1.

Youth and student activists in the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education coalition in New York are enthusiastically taking up the building of May Day 2010.

To get involved with the May 1 Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights, visit www.may1.info (http://www.may1.info/).


— LeiLani Dowell


Articles copyright 1995-2010 Workers World (http://wwppitt.weebly.com/). Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.

Red Rebel
1st March 2010, 22:30
Glad to see TWU Local 100 supporting May Day. My local (not that I am a member just the closest one near me) TWU 234 sadly isn't a huge fan of coming out to May Day in Philadelphia.

Communist
3rd March 2010, 20:17
.
http://web.mail.com/30746-111/mmc-2/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.28391706&folder=Inbox&partId=5

Immigrant Community Leaders, Trade Unionists, and NYC Activists Stand United for May Day 2010

New York, NY- On February 18, at the Transit Workers Union Hall in mid-town Manhattan, over a hundred people, many of them representatives of organizations and individuals of the May 1st Coalition for Workers and Immigrant Rights, came together to meet to push forward the struggle for immigrant and workers rights in New York City.

The May 1st Coalition is the same group that created the momentum in New York City for 2006's May 1st protest and rally that mobilized more than amillion people. Many others came on Feb. 18 in response to the call from the May 1st Coalition for a united May Day in 2010 that expands the annual protest to bring in new forces.

From the outcome of the meeting, it was evident that workers, immigrant and U.S. born, are merging together to create an impact on this upcoming May Day to challenge the U.S. government to answer the problems to the worsening economic crisis.

People in attendance proved the diversity of the May 1st Coalition, with every region of the world represented -- from Africa, Asia, and Central and Latin America, including Haiti, to the African Diaspora in the U.S. Participants also included members of social justice, workers' and political left organizations, as well as individuals representing unorganized labor, women and youth. Women played the largest role in the organization and facilitation of the meeting.

In attendance were representatives from the Million Worker March Movement who were one of the principal organizers of May Day 2005, several members or representatives of TWU-Local 100, SEIU Local 1199, DC 37 and many other union activists.

Immigrant groups included the Work Place Project in Long Island, Latin American work center from Queens, Day Laborers United, several organizations from the Bronx including the May 1st Coalition in the Bronx, as well as Working Peoples News, La Peña del Bronx and Victor Toro who is facing deportation and demanding political asylum.

Also in attendance were several Filipino organizations including BAYAN-USA and the Philippine Forum; organizers from the March 4th Student Rights Coalition, Pakistan USA and Senegalese Workers Association as well as representatives from the Bail Out the People Movement.

A moving presentation was made by Ralph Pointer whose partner, well known civil rights attorney Lynne Stewart is currently in jail due to repression. Hip Hop activists from the popular and beloved Rebel Diaz also attended and proposed a program to reach out to students and youth for May Day.

For a full list of the endorsers and for the Call for United May Day please visit the May 1st Coalition website listed below.

Charles Jenkins, African-American trade union leader from Local 100 TWU, opened the meeting by stating, "This meeting tonight is historic. Everyone who has come here tonight agrees that we need a united May Day in 2010 that is better and bigger than ever. It must bring together the diversity of workers in New York City whether they are organized or unorganized, documented or undocumented, in an office or on the campuses."

Teresa Gutierrez, a co-coordinator for the May 1st Coalition stated “As May 1st nears, the need for fair immigration reform must be acted upon more than ever. Obama made a promise to immigrants in the U.S. and he has not followed through on this promise. As the economic crisis worsens, the lives of immigrants and U.S. born workers face an alarming 10.6% unemployment rate across the nation. This is a time that we must unite and organize together, as workers, immigrants, students, and women regardless of race, sexuality, gender, or status; and demand that those on Capitol Hill provide our basic human rights to a job, housing, healthcare and so on”.

To get involved with the May Day 2010 Unity Coalition or the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights, visit www.may1.info (http://www.may1.info/).

chegitz guevara
3rd March 2010, 21:16
We're building one in Miami.