Join in May Day to Defend the Rights of All

5th Annual Rally, March & Forum

by Halifax May Day CommitteeApril 162011

 

We invite everyone to join us on MAY FIRST in Halifax to put forward the demands of workers in all sectors of the economy in defence of the rights of all and to hold governments to account. Our action recognizes that we have a common cause not just with the workers of Canada and Québec but also with the workers in all countries who are fighting to provide their rights with a guarantee – our fellow workers in the United States, Mexico and the world over.

The 5th annual MAY DAY takes place one day before the federal election. In contrast to Harper’s lies about “economic recovery,” the Maritimes is being decimated with decisions made by a handful of monopolies and their self-serving agenda. These decisions are resulting in serious economic dislocation, decimation of manufacturing and our fishing, forest and farming communities, and a wrecking of the social fabric. The new industries of call centres and the knowledge-based economy have been shown to be built on quicksand.

From Yarmouth to Labrador global monopolies like Abitibi Bowater, Vale Inco, Cerberus Capital’s NewPage (Stora Enso), Ikea (Scanwood) together with Magna, HBC, Irving monopolies, the banks, are enforcing their interests and crushing workers’ rights. AbitibiBowater just exited bankruptcy protection and the paper workers are being shafted big time. These rights include the right to a livelihood and security in retirement because we are the producers of all the wealth society depends on for its existence. Our rights include the right to control the decisions that affect our lives, livelihoods, security and pensions, and the right to decide.

Along with this, neo-liberal forces are determined to privatize public services such as the Post Office and provincial and municipal services as well as schools and healthcare. This May Day, workers from public sector unions such as CUPW, PSAC, CUPE, NSGEU and NSUPE will affirm their rights against deregulation and privatization, centralization of public services, and the demand that workers give up their pensions, benefits and job security. Over 50 postal workers, whose contract struggle includes the fight for quality public services and against Modern Post, are taking up the honour of leading the May Day March through the downtown core.

Let us tell the business parties with one voice that we oppose the program to trample the rights of the workers in the mud! Let’s together call on whatever party or parties form the next minority government to change the direction for the economy and uphold public right, not the so-called rights of the monopolies to make their big score at the expense of our resources, our manufacturing, our public assets such as Canada Post, our public sector workers, industrial and service workers, fishermen, farmers, seniors and youth. Let us uphold the dignity and worth of labour.

Spread the word far and wide, endorse MAY DAY in your organization, and vigorously participate. Come out with your family, friends and allies. Let us together develop a new chapter to defend the rights of all!

Join with us in Halifax on Sunday, MAY FIRST to say Enough Is Enough! Concessions Are Not Solutions! Layoffs Are Not Solutions! Pensions Are a Right! Attacks on Public Sector Workers No, Public Services Yes! Manufacturing Yes, Nation-Wrecking No!

Everyone bring your own banners and slogans!

Whose Economy? Our Economy! Whose Democracy? Our Democracy!

All for One and One for All!

 

May Day is endorsed by Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, Canadian Labour Congress, the Halifax-Dartmouth District Labour Council, and the Nova Scotia Public Interest Group (NSPIRG).

* * *

Program

2 p.m.: MAY DAY RALLY

Victoria Park, Spring Garden Road at South Park, Halifax

Sunday, May 1st • March through the downtown core to

3:30 pm approximately: MAY DAY FORUM / FESTIVAL

Speakers & Discussion • El Jones Spoken Word • Potluck Dinner • Music by Miles Howe and others • Display on Labour History

Mikmaq Friendship Centre, 2158 Gottingen St. (at Cornwallis) • Halifax

Everyone welcome!

Contributions to the potluck spread are appreciated, and may be dropped at the Mikmaq Centre in the morning, before the rally or brought with you.

Contacts:

Halifax May Day Committee

Tel: Tony Seed (902) 477-0470

E-mail: mayday.halifax@gmail.com

Union contact: Dave Shaw, Atlantic Region Organizer, Public Service Alliance of Canada

1-800-839-6661 toll free - leave message

902-443-3541 Halifax RO

902-233-3471 Cell

902-826-9447 Home

902-443-8291 fax#

E-mail: shawd@psac-afpc.com

 

Join us on Facebook – Haligonians for May Day

 

* * *

May Day 2011 marks the fifth annual celebration organized by the Halifax May Day Committee, and the broadest yet.

May Day Celebrations in Canada will include marches and rallies on Parliament Hill and in all main cities.

May First is celebrated as International Workers' Day throughout the world.

The 1st Congress of the Second International, celebrated in Paris in 1889, constituted May 1 as International Workers Day in commemoration of the struggle for the eight hour day and the Haymarket Massacre of Chicago workers in 1886.

We especially invite the workers who are at the heart of whole areas in the Maritimes that depend almost solely on the forestry, the fisheries and agriculture to make a living. Bring your banners and concerns to the capital to take one united stand for your rights and against being thrown into the street, off the land or forced out of your communities and the Maritimes under the hoax that there is no alternative.