Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By Dave Reid
“Today is OUR day, May Day is the day for the working class across the world” declared Dave Bartlett, secretary of Cardiff Trades Council to hundreds of trade unionists gathered in Cardiff city centre as he opened the Trades Council’s annual May Day celebration.
Led by the Ynyshir brass band they marched through Cardiff in glorious sunshine to a rally on Queen Street. At the rallies there were speeches from Maureen Harmer and Denise Phillips, leaders of the victorious Glasgow council equal pay strike, and Paddy Brennan convenor at Honda, Swindon fighting to save the plant plus many more.
The march and rally was a celebration of the combativity of the working class in Wales and the determination to overcome Tory austerity and drive them from office. “Theresa May declared the end of austerity last year. Try telling that to council workers losing their jobs and service users losing their services. The labour movement has to drive them from office” said Carmarthenshire Unison secretary, Mark Evans before calling on Welsh councils to refuse to carry out the cuts.
The Cardiff May Day march goes from strength to strength and is becoming an important fixture in the Welsh labour movement calendar.
