The History of May Day
The late historian Eric Hobsbawm recounts the history of International Workers’ Day.
4327 Articles by:
Raven Hart
Raven Hart is co-founder of the Bristol Cooperative Alliance, an organisation that aims to promote a decentralised economy that empowers local communities and facilitates democratic self-determination.
Workers’ Unity on May Day
The last year has seen workers in Britain and across the world rise up to demand justice – but we can’t beat the ruling class without unity.
Starving University Staff Out
In the past month, university bosses have threatened to withhold the pay of workers observing a marking boycott. These draconian acts – intended to break their workers’ spirit – have only emboldened them.
How Anti-Worker Policies Turned Britain into a Cancer Capital
Nobody should die at work – but the government’s refusal to remove asbestos is killing more than five thousand people a year. On International Workers’ Memorial Day, we should remember them by fighting for a system that values workers more than profits.
Remembering Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci died on this day in 1937. We remember his revolutionary life and his contributions to the struggle against capitalism.
Kwame Nkrumah’s Pan-African Socialism
Kwame Nkrumah, who died on this day in 1972, was a leader in the fight against colonialism. But he knew that independence wasn’t enough – only a unified, socialist Africa could truly free itself from its former masters.
The Radical Harry Belafonte
From the struggle for Civil Rights to opposing apartheid in South Africa and the blockade of Cuba, Harry Belafonte was a lifelong radical – and a fighter for justice both at home and abroad.
Portugal’s Carnation Revolution
On this day in 1974 a mutiny in the Portuguese army put an end to the country’s dictatorship. The revolution which followed brought down an empire and showed how working people could take control of society.
Italy’s Partisan Revolution
Today, Italy celebrates Liberation Day in memory of the victory against fascism, but many of its partisans fought for more than a return to liberal democracy – they wanted a revolutionary new society.
Saving Salford Red Devils
The Salford Red Devils have shown how ordinary people can run a top-level rugby league club free of corporate owners – but to secure its future, the club needs wider support and solidarity.
How the Paris Commune Influenced the 1916 Rising
The Paris Commune of 1871 was still fresh in the memory by the time of Ireland’s Easter Rising – and, for 1916 leader James Connolly, its radical politics and urban warfare offered an example to follow.
Remembering the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass
On this day in 1932, hundreds of workers took to the hills of northern England to challenge the right of landed gentry to enclose the countryside.
Remembering Rana Plaza
On this day in 2013, Rana Plaza collapsed, killing more than 1,000 garment workers. The tragedy exposed the dire conditions in much of the world’s fashion industry – and the corporate elite which profit from them.
South London’s Outsourced NHS Workers Are Fighting Back
Today, caterers and cleaners in hospitals across south London are on strike against outsourcing giant ISS. They are fighting not just for pay but for dignity and respect.
Universities Want to Starve Staff Back to Work
Universities are threatening to deduct up to 100% of staff’s wages even on days when there is no industrial action – a shameless attempt to punish workers for defending their rights.
The Radical Politics of Nina Simone
Nina Simone, who died on this day in 2003, is often remembered for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement – but she was also a socialist who saw revolution as the path to true equality.
The West Is Drowning the Global South in Debt
The Global South faces its worst debt crisis in years – but instead of providing assistance, Western states are pushing policies that will drive millions into poverty.
TGI Fridays: Taking Food From the Mouths of Workers
Hungry for profits, TGI Fridays has axed meals for its staff in the middle of a cost of living crisis. But its workers are gearing up to struggle, not to suffer.
Remembering the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
On this day in 1943, a band of Jewish resistance fighters launched an armed insurrection against the Nazis. They were proud socialists and internationalists.
Why the USS Pension Victory Matters
Attacks on pensions are an everyday reality across Britain’s workplaces – but university workers have shown that it’s possible to fight for restoration and win.