May Day 2018: Exploitation, NO! Expropriation, NO! Unite for Justice!

Interview of Monthly Review analysts

by Farooque Chowdhury

Countercurrents.org | April 30, 2018

In view of the historic May Day, May 1^st, analysts from Monthly Review, the famous independent socialist magazine, identify tasks the working classes should press with. In the following interviews, conducted in early-April, John Bellamy Foster, Professor and Editor of Monthly Review; Fred Magdoff, Professor Emeritus, and one of Monthly Review’s closest associates; and Michael D. Yates, Professor Emeritus and Associate Editor of Monthly Review, provide answers (presented in alphabetical order) to a number of questions as well as slogans to be raised by the working classes on May Day in 2018. (Monthly Review’s Associate Editor R. Jamil Jonna’s contribution in putting the interviews into final shape is thankfully acknowledged.) The interviews, conducted for MR Online, by Farooque Chowdhury, have been translated into Baanglaa and presented in a booklet for distribution on May Day.

#1Mayo: There is no force more powerful than unity

Granma | April 30, 2018

On November 18, 1959, Fidel stated “… Given its power, given its triumph since January 1, May Day has become a powerful factor, decisive in the political life of the country, because, with the general strike called with the Rebel Army, it was the working class that delivered the final blow to plans to snatch the people’s victory at the last moment, as they had done on other occasions …”

Cuba calls, love answers

This May Day, when the certainty of victory fills the air in our streets and plazas, the day will resound with pride and confidence in the future

Granma | April 27, 2018

Fuerza de trabajo (Workforce) by Cuban painter Marcelo Pogolotti (1902-1988)

When the people of Cuba march, it is no mere formality. When streets and souls resound with a “Viva Fidel” or a “Patria o muerte” followed by a “Venceremos” (We will triumph), the day resounds with pride and confidence in the future. Fortunate are the nations that have not lost their dreams, and those determined to continue building them. The date has been set for May 1, because only unity and commitment will lead us to new victories. The island calls its sons and daughters of goodwill, marked by the love that our history has sowed.

ITUC May Day Statement 2018

One hundred and fifty years ago, workers in Britain came together to create the world’s first national trade union centre, the TUC, in the city of Manchester.

International Trade Union Confederation | April 26, 2018

They, and working people in many other places at that time, laid the first foundations for the global trade union movement of today, more than 200 million strong. Ever since those early steps, men and women organising together have built and grown their unions and changed the course of history.

Let us go onto the streets on Mayday with a louder voice against exploitation and imperialist aggression!

CIPOML | April 30, 2018

To all workers, working people, oppressed nations, brothers and sisters,

Mayday is approaching, the international day of unity, struggle and solidarity of the working class, the day when we raise our demands on the streets against capitalist exploitation and imperialist aggression.

May Day 2018: With Internationalism and Solidarity!!

World Federation of Trade Unions | May 01, 2018

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in the name of its more than 92 million affiliates all over the world salutes, on the occasion of this great day, all the workers who live, work and struggle in every corner of the world. May Day was, is and will be a beacon for the struggles of yesterday and tomorrow despite our enemies’ efforts. May Day has to be a message of resistance against bourgeoisie, imperialists and their international alliances’ policies.

At the same time, the workers’ blood which was shed in Chicago on 1886 reminds us of our duty today; it reminds us that nothing is given for free; every right or freedom that was conquered by our class has been won through sacrifices, conflicts and organized struggles.

MAY DAY MANIFESTO, 2018

CENTRE OF INDIAN TRADE UNIONS | May 01, 2018

On this May Day, the Day of International Solidarity of the Working Class, CITU

Greets all working people, be they working in factories, offices, services, mines, forests, fields or waters, across the world

Kurdistan: KJK’s Çiğdem Doğu: Time for workers to unite on May Day

​​​​​​​“This year we celebrate May Day to counter State of Emergency.”

ANF NEWS | April 28, 2018

KJK Coordination Member Çiğdem Doğu has been talking to ANF about this year’s First of May celebrations.

Doğu begun by saying that “The AKP-MHP fascism will be defeated only with the unity of all democratic sectors”.

Cuba Rejects Attempts to ‘Destabilize’ Nicaragua

teleSUR | April 29, 2018

The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Cuba’s support for Nicaragua amid turmoil. | Photo: Reuters FILE

The official release added that Cuba “denounces the attempts aimed at destabilizing the Republic of Nicaragua…”

The Cuban Foreign Ministry has denounced the “interference in internal affairs” and attempts to “destabilize” Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan Truth Commission to Analyze Protests and Deaths

teleSUR | Apirl 29, 2018

Thousand of protesters marched yesterday to demand an end to violence at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua, April 28, 2018. | Photo: Reuters

The Nicaraguan Assembly approved today the creation of a truth commission to examine the violent protests and deaths of at least 11 people since April 19.

The Nicaraguan National Assembly approved the creation of truth commission to analyze the current political situation and protests that have resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people over the past two weeks.