A Celebration of Working-Class History

May Day is celebrated as a day of international solidarity between workers and the oppressed around the globe. So earlier today I was happy to participate in the annual May Day rally and march here in Leicester.

A number of excellent speakers addressed the rally in the city centre, but with the elections looming a decision had been made to not have representative speakers from any of the political parties.

In some ways this decision helped demonstrate to workers which political organizations would take the time out of their busy political calendars to celebrate May Day in solidarity with other members of their class; that is, without any opportunity to grandstand from a platform.

The historic political organization of the working-class, the Labour Party, was notable for their absence. Of course Labour Party members were in attendance, but not one of the city’s three Labour MP’s showed up, nor our city Mayor, or any local Labour councillors.

Although the Green’s had a small showing, missing two of their parliamentary candidates, only the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) thought the event important enough to send down all three parliamentary candidates, their two existing city councillors (including potential Mayor, Barbie Potter), and ten other candidates standing in the local elections. (See Barbie Potter’s first-person piece from this weeks Leicester Mercury, “We will fight the Tories’ cuts agenda.”)

With today marking the 125th May Day march, it is apparent that lengthy struggles lie ahead for socialists and worker-activists intent on building, and rebuilding, combative class organisations that can fight for the needs of our class. Building a strong socialist political alternative in the electoral sphere is a vital part of this future.

Moreover, many lessons will need to be learned from the last 125 years of workers struggle, if our class is going to successfully reclaim politics once again, so that it can be used to advance the needs of the 99% above the greed of the 1%.

Photographs thanks to Tugay Akar.

Further reading: “125 years of May Day: Learn the lessons of past struggles.”