May Day 2020: join the protests - wear red, bring flags and banners

The Socialist is backing the campaign launched by trade unionists in Nipsa, Northern Ireland's largest union, to demonstrate workers' solidarity in struggle this May Day. (Click to enlarge)

This week's issue of the Socialist covers International Workers' Day, Friday 1 May 2020. May Day is always an important event in the calendar of the workers' movement. It is doubly so this year, as capitalism descends into Covid chaos and workers battle for safe conditions and full income.

The Socialist is backing the campaign launched by trade unionists in Nipsa, Northern Ireland's largest union, to demonstrate workers' solidarity in struggle this May Day.

Alongside the National Shop Stewards Network, we are suggesting to workers still going in that they make red flags and bring trade union banners to work on Friday 1 May. Whether or not you can do that - and even if you're sitting at home - you can wear red. Don't forget to share photos on social media.

Red is the traditional colour of the international workers' and socialist movement, after France's 1848 Revolution and later the Paris Commune adopted it. The colour represents the blood of those killed in the struggles for workers' rights and socialism - poignant today as thousands die for want of PPE and testing during the pandemic.

Another record-breaking year for May Day greetings

As is traditional, the Socialist also carries May Day greetings from throughout the workers' movement in this issue.

Alongside messages from sister organisations and supporters around the world, we have printed over 100 expressions of solidarity from workers, trade union branches and others in England and Wales. And it's another record-breaker! We set a financial record in 2019, with £8,200 raised to support the Socialist and its ideas. We are proud to report over £8,900 raised in 2020 - under far more difficult conditions.

May Day's roots in the 19th century were the united global struggle for an eight-hour day. Today, workers around the world are united in fighting for PPE, testing, full income and fully funded healthcare.

View our 16 page May Day greetings pull out here.

International May Day rally and reports from the CWI

This year, Socialist Party Scotland is hosting an online May Day international rally. Hear speakers from around the world in the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), the international organisation the Socialist Party is affiliated to.

Tune in on Facebook from 6 to 8pm on Friday 1 May. Visit facebook.com/SocialistPartyScotland or facebook.com/CWISocialistParty to watch.

The CWI is also posting regular updates from its sections around the world. These articles analyse the failings of capitalism, exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. They report on working-class struggles to secure safe working conditions, health coverage and food security. And they show how CWI sections are advancing socialist programmes to deal both with this immediate crisis and a post-coronavirus world. See socialistworld.net

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.