General

May Day 2008

The first day of May is an international day for celebrating workers and their struggles over the years to achieve fairness in our societies. In some states of Australia, Labour Day holidays closely coincide with May Day so look out for events under both banners, some of which are listed below. And in this year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, remember that workers' rights are human rights.

May Day events in your neck of the woods

Details of some events are below. You can contact your local trades and labour council for further information:

• Labor Council of New South Wales: http://www.council.labor.net.au/
• Newcastle Trades Hall Council: http://www.newtradeshall.com/
• Queensland Council of Unions: http://www.qcu.asn.au/
• SA Unions: http://www.utlc.org.au/
• Unions ACT: http://www.unionsact.org.au/
• Unions NT: http://www.unionsnt.com.au/
• Unions Tasmania: http://www.unionstas.com.au/
• Unions WA: http://www.unionswa.com.au/
• Victorian Trades Hall Council: http://www.vthc.org.au/

Queensland

This year, Labour Day will be celebrated on Monday 5 May 2008.

Brisbane March
Assemble at Wharf and Turbot Sts, with march ending at RNA Showground Oval 2
This year's theme is "Your rights at work, worth joining for".

For regional activities: http://www.qld.asu.net.au/826.html

New South Wales

Annual May Day Toast - Sydney
When: Thursday 1 May 2008, 6.30pm
Where: Trades Hall, 377 Sussex Street, Sydney
Guest Speakers Include: Charmaine O'Sheades (NSW Teachers Federation), John Robertson (Unions NSW), Simon Flynn (NSW FBEU), Hannah Middleton (Peace & Anti Bases Campaign).
Food & Drinks Provided.
Enquiries: Amber McGowan (02) 9265-8438

Community Rally - Sydney
Join concerned workers and families who want to stop the NSW State Government trying to sell electricity to a private company.
Where: Darling Harbour Convention Centre (near Olympic monument)
When: 9.30am Saturday 3 May
The electricity anti-privatisation Rally will be followed by the: May Day Rally & Procession.
Download the flyer below

Further information about regional events can be found here: http://www.asuservices.labor.net.au/news/4277.html

ACT

2008 May Day Dinner
1 May at The Hellenic Club in Woden
Guest speaker is Mike Kelly MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence.
To RSVP for this event, contact Mandy Sharplin at Unions ACT on 6247 7844.

South Australia

May Day March
Saturday May 3rd 2008
10.00am Victoria Square
Concluding at Barr Smith Lawns, University of Adelaide
Download the flyer below

Western Australia

May Day Fair and March
Sunday May 4th 2008
12.00noon Fremantle Esplanade
* Free Food * Free Entertainment * Free Fun
Download the flyer below

Victoria

Wreath Laying Ceremony
Thursday 1st May 5pm
At the 8 Hour monument a brief ceremony to commemorate workers' struggles.

Multicultural Event
Thursday 1st May 7pm
Multicultural Event Speakers and Cultural items hosted by a number of ethnic groups. Followed by a Multicultural supper. The event takes place at Trades Hall.

Family Festival & May Day March
Sunday 4th May
Festivities begin at 12pm in Lygon St outside Trades Hall.
The May Day March assembles at 1pm on the corner of Victoria and Russell Sts, opposite Trades Hall, and then moves through the city and back to Lygon St. Speakers, activities, stalls.

What our global unions are saying

The ASU is affiliated to the Public Services International (PSI), the International Transport Workers Union (ITF) and Union Network International (UNI). Their news releases for May Day follow:

PSI: May Day: Workers' rights are human rights

This year will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On the occasion of International Workers' Day, PSI takes the opportunity to re-emphasise that trade union rights are also human rights. On 1st May PSI affiliates across the globe will be organising marches, demonstrations and rallies to call for the observance of trade union and human rights and to highlight the severe injustices that trade unionists remain subjected to, including murder and persecution in the worst instances.

Read the full PSI item here.

ITF: Osanloo film to be screened at May day event in Geneva

An ITF film documenting the fight for fundamental trade union rights in Iran led by union leader Mansour Osanloo, who remains in detention, will be shown at a May day event in Switzerland tomorrow.

Read the full ITF item here.

UNI: Virtual May Day

May Day 2008 sees the launch of Union Island, an innovative new trade union project to build a home for UNI unions and activists in the virtual world Second Life™. Union Island is kicking off with the first ever Virtual May Day, a day of training, networking and celebration, to bring activists from the global union movement together in a way never before possible.

Read the full UNI item here.

And in the virtual world...

Unions To Celebrate May Day In A Virtual World
From LabourStart

This Thursday is international workers' day and will be marked by workers and their unions around the world. LabourStart intends to have full coverage. Make sure to visit http://www.labourstart.org on May Day to see what unions all over the world are doing.

In an innovative effort, unions in a number of countries are using the occasion to launch "Union Island," a home for trade unionists in the virtual world Second Life. On May 1st, Union Island will host a day of training, networking and celebration. This will include -- we're told -- a dance party hosted by a live DJ, a photo and video exhibition, even a virtual bar (though I admit to being a bit baffled by that one). There's more information and a full program of events here:

http://www.slunionisland.org

History of May Day

Have a look at our article on May Day from 2003, "May Day: no time for complacency", which explains the historical significance and provides some links to related resources: http://www.asu.asn.au/media/general/20030501_mayday.html

Related Documents: