Enthusiastic May Day celebrations

Around 15,000 people took part in one of the most successful 
May Day celebrations for many years in Brisbane. The march 
was held on the Monday, Labour Day holiday. There was a strong 
trade union presence with unions easily identifiable by their 
flags and T-shirts, made even more colourful by participants 
carrying balloons. The main theme was "Union Rights are Human 
Rights".

The banners and placards took up many issues, including peace, 
solidarity with Cuba, defence of Medicare and trade union rights. 
A petition against the Free Trade Agreement was circulated and 
found no shortage of willing signatories.

The Melbourne march and rally was held on the usual 
Sunday. Like the Brisbane march, there was no shortage of 
enthusiasm, but the attendance was down, around 1500. Trade 
unions, left political parties, including the Communist Party of 
Australia, solidarity and other groups and individuals 
participated.

The question of socialism was raised as well as the attacks on 
the working class movement, and the building industry in 
particular. Speakers came from the building industry, the 
Philippines and the Cuba Friendship Society.

It appears that numbers were affected with the holding of another 
May Day march on the Saturday, May 1, which attracted between 600 
and 800 workers. Five unions — MUA, AMWU, United Fire Fighters, 
CFMEU, LHMU — were represented.

In Perth, 1000 people rallied for May Day at the Fremantle 
Esplanade. Main demands included workers' compensation, fair 
trade and use of local labour and local materials in the oil, gas 
and other developments in the north of WA. "Make it here or jobs 
disappear" was a popular slogan.

CPA comrades worked well in party stall selling Guardians as well 
as other merchandise. The red flag flew high throughout march and 
some contacts were made.

In Sydney around 2000 people marched from Hyde Park to 
Town Hall via John Howard's office in the city where a noisy 
stopover was held. Speakers were Greens MP Lee Rhiannon; Andrew 
Ferguson, State Secretary CFMEU; Julia Gillard from the ALP; and 
Anna Pha, editor of The Guardian.

In Wollongong approximately 300 people marched from Fred 
Moore House to the Wollongong Mall Ampithreatre via the historic 
Regent Theatre. Greens Federal MP Michael Organ spoke at the 
Regent Theatre stopover about the historical importance of the 
former cinema. CFMEU State Assistant Secretary Peter Zaboyak 
announced his union's green ban on the site that has been 
earmarked for development.

Speakers at the Mall Ampithreatre included Rob Long from the 
Wollongong TAFE Teachers' Association on impact that fee 
increases had on students and his unions campaign to save public 
education. South Coast Labour Council Secretary Arthur Rorris 
spoke on the union movement's campaign to have a medical 
retrieval unit for the region.

The last speaker of the march was retired MUA Southern Branch 
Secretary Tony Adcock who spoke on the importance of 
international worker solidarity and the need for international 
peace.

Two of the themes common to all marches were the need to get rid 
of the Howard Government and the demand for Australian troops out 
of Iraq.

The Communist Party of Australia had good contingents at all the 
marches. It ran stalls, distributed Guardians and handed out 
thousands of leaflets. The leaflet calling for a Stop to the 
Militarisation of Australia was particularly well received.