Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Dublin's May Day March & Rally

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | event notice

Saturday April 26, 2008 18:22

by Alan MacSimoin

March from Parnell Square to Liberty Hall. Meet at the Garden of Remembrance at 7.30pm.

The theme of this year's march is 'Defend and Extend Trade Union Rights'

Organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions

Why we celebrate May Day (from the May issue of 'Workers Solidarity')

The 1st of May as International Workers’ Day dates back to the struggle for the 8-hour working day in the USA.  In 1886 the American Federation of Labour declared that after May 1st, “8 hours shall constitute a legal days labour”. Between that declaration and May 1st workers all around the United States went on strike to make their employers agree to a shorter work day.

A general strike started in Chicago on May 1st, with 25,000 workers striking. After two days the strikers had doubled in numbers. At this stage scabs had entered the scene, causing fights between them and the striking workers. The police moved in and killed six workers. In protest at this a public meeting was held on Haymarket Square in Chicago on May 4th. Once again the police intervened by attacking the peaceful protest, and this led to a bomb being thrown (by a person who was never identifid). Seven policemen and four workers were killed.  After this the ruling class used the bomb as an excuse to arrest those believed to be the eight most active anarchist trade unionists in the city and accused them of being responsible for the bomb and the riot.

Most of the arrested anarchists had not even been present, which was acknowledged by the prosecutor and there was no evidence that any of them threw the bomb. Despite this the court was determined to find the anarchists guilty and in the end it came up with the argument that the arrested anarchists had “indirectly” killed the cops on Haymarket Square by agitating for a labour uprising at meetings and through newspaper articles This was enough to rule them guilty.  

The outcome of the trial was seven death sentences and one of 15 years in prison. Due to an international campaign, two of the anarchists had their sentences commuted from death by hanging to life in prison, but four were hanged and one committed suicide. These five are today known as the Chicago Martyrs. 

On the initiative of the American Federation of Labour, the worldwide trade unon and socialist movement declared May 1st as International Workers’ Day in honour of the Chicago dead and the struggle for the eight hour day. The first time the day was marked in the USA was in 1890.

The eight hour day began to be achieved in the USA after often bitter struggles. In 1938 it became part of the government’s New Deal and was made a legal days work.  There are several things to be said about the history of International Workers’ Day. One is that the trial shows how capitalism is prepared to disobey its own rules of justice when it comes to protecting the interests of the rich and powerful.

Another is that nothing comes from nothing. Workers of the world would have no rights, if they hadn’t been fought for.  In Ireland the eight hour workday is upheld by the unions and not the law. Employers can, legally, force you to work up to thirteeen hours a day or 48 hours a week. Attacks on our standard of living are part and parcel of life under capitalism.

So long as other people profit from our labour, they will try to make us work harder and longer for less money. Until the day we end the rule of the bosses, we have to stay organised to keep the rights we have gained and win more.

Grethe Christensen

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Comments (10 of 10)

McGonagall school of lyric writing

by William Topaz McGonagall

Thu May 01, 2008 17:49

"We will not sag nor will we lag."

Needs a bit of work maybe.

Hypocrites

by Michael Gallagher

Thu May 01, 2008 16:31

liberypics at yahoo dot ie

These May Day and every day hypocrites again are being given the opportunity on the most important of worker's days, to spin their spin, et al...pay lip service to the causes Connolly and Larkin etc, have lived, struggled, fought and died for.

No doubt also in attendance will be the likes of the Labour Party's Joe Costello (who stated recently that Connolly and Larkin would vote yes for the EU Constitution!) and the youth wing of same party who voted in favour of supporting the same constitution.

I have said this before and will say it again, there should be a separate May Day March organised every year by the real socialists that are many in this city and country.

No pasaran...roll on the revolution!!

Happy days

MAY DAY GREETING to all!!

One Red Flag

One red flag, one red flag,
Just one red flag can keep the spark within our hearts still burning.
We will not sag, nor will we lag,
We will not sag nor will we lag we're not for turning.

So let's make hay, while May Day shines.
While May Day shines the workers spines are not for breaking.
And while May Day shines, we'll always find,
While May Day shines we'll always find there's hay for making.

The worker's song, will keep us strong.
The workers song will keep us strong our day is dawning.
And when it dawns we'll right the wrongs.
When it dawns we'll right the wrongs for we are longing.

The earth the moon, we'll have them soon.
The earth the moon we'll have them soon maybe tomorrow
And when that blossom blooms we'll end the gloom
When that blossom blooms we'll end the gloom, the grief, the sorrow.

One red flag, one red flag.
Just one red flag can keep the spark within our hearts still burning.
We will not sag nor will we lag.
We will not sag nor will we lag we're not for turning.

(c) Michael Gallagher May 1st 2003

mayday 2009

by simplesam

Thu May 01, 2008 16:13

I agree our mayday can be dismal and often depressing but why can't all the people with good ideas apply them and particpate to make May Day better than it is?

Why do we always expect the show to be put on FOR us but not BY us.

So lets bring some colour and enthusiasm and the fighting spirit which more than anything else characterises the French celebrations !

festivity

by Dancing Dan

Thu May 01, 2008 13:18

In Paris on Bastille Day, 14th July, you can stumble across organised street dancing with pop and folk bands provided at the expense of the PCF or the PS. There is usually a decorated platform for the band. Allcomers can dance on the cobblestones or whatever surface the little squares and triangular nooks are made of. One of the most joyful is the set-up on l'Isle St. Louis in the middle of the Seine. Les riches bourgeoisie and anybody with a few saved bob in their poches can eat escargots and other delicacies in nearby pricey restaurants, sometimes al fresco on the pavement, while lapping up the festive atmosphere. Whether bourgeois, petit bourgeois or proletarien the French do things like festivals with a bit of class and savoir faire. Dublin Mayday is just a distress signal. A pity we weren't colonised by France.

dixie?

by flann

Thu May 01, 2008 09:46

Dixie? A little racist don't you think?

Same old shite for this year's May Day. A yawn-festival. I'll still head along though.

no union jack or dixie this year please

by tomeile

Wed Apr 30, 2008 16:03

Two things the Mayday parade can do without this year .
1 The flying of the Union Jack at the end of the rally . This was done last year as part of a display of European flags on the platform when speakers addressed the rally.
2 The trade union marching band should be told not to play ' Dixie' as it did last year .

strange

by Padraic

Tue Apr 29, 2008 22:48

Last year DCTU seemed to make a bit of an effort. The march might have been the same as ever but they set up a stage and area for stalls afterwards. There was even open access to the roof of Liberty Hall for people who had never been there before (The view is amazing btw).

Now I wouldn't have been the biggest fan of the bands that were asked to play and think maybe the stage could have been scrapped for this year but I am disappointed that there won't be more going on. Just wondering why this year sees a return back to the same old same old?

No Joy

by Kilroy here

Tue Apr 29, 2008 16:21

The thing about the annual May Day parades in Dublin is the sheer repetitive joylessness of the event. There is absent from it any sense of holiday celebration. The motley collection of marchers aren't stimulated to do anything imaginative by the statutory speeches made from a platform by statutory speakers in an atmosphere where the acoustics are bland to say the least. Even the radical fringe paper sellers have a glum time hogging their publications to people who pursue their lifelong political commitments with humdrum routine.

Not a very inspiring line-up

by Been there Heard that

Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:34

A couple of years ago the May Day march had a GAMA worker on the platform, a South African worker - an interesting line-up. This year it seems we're back to the same old routines. Is it written in the Constitution or something that Sam Nolan has to give the same speech every year?
Of course, everyone should go to the march - for what May Day represents to the working class, not to listen to the tired speeches.

Speakers & arrangements

by Des Derwin - Dublin Council of Trade Unions

Mon Apr 28, 2008 17:40

(Beat us to it, Alan, as usual.)

Dublin Council of Trade Unions

May Day March and Rally

ORGANISE!!
Defend and Extend Trade Union Rights

Assemble
7.30 p.m. Thursday 1st May 2008
Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin

March to Liberty Hall

Speeches inside Liberty Hall

Speakers:
Jack O'Connor, General President, SIPTU
Patricia McKeown, President, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Betty Tyrell-Collard, national executive, CPSU
Sam Nolan, Secretary, Dublin Council of Trade Unions

Followed by music and bar at Liberty Hall

Trade union recognition - trade union conditions

Leaflets from: dctuhealth@gmail.com or 087 6229686

March with your trade union.

All trade unions, community groups, progressive campaigns and political organisations welcome.
Bring your banner.

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Dublin's May Day March & Rally

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