Worldwide workers say ‘We won’t pay for capitalist crisis’

International Workers’ Day brought out millions this year. “We want jobs!” rang out from Jakarta to New Delhi to San Juan. Millions of workers worldwide focused on the spiraling economic crisis as they took to the streets on this historic day.

Here are some of the actions which took place.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Tens of thousands of Indonesian workers countrywide called for an end to layoffs, temporary jobs, and anti-worker, anti-union laws. They demanded pay increases, including a higher minimum wage, and called for their government to implement measures to deal with the global downturn. The Congress of Indonesia Unions Alliance and the Working People’s Association were involved.

In the Philippines, thousands marched in Manila for jobs protection, higher pay and improved working conditions, while 16,000 marched to the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, with similar demands.

Japanese workers rallied on April 29 for pro-worker laws and government aid for the jobless at actions organized by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation.

Pakistani women joined a march in Lahore to demand “Equal pay for work of equal value!” while May Day activities also took place in Quetta, Peshawar, Multan and other cities in Pakistan.

India saw many marches, with labor unions out front, including in New Delhi, where workers protested job and wage cuts.

In Gaza City, Palestine, workers marched to demand jobs and called for Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and reopen the border crossings. The blockade has caused thousands of Palestinians to lose their jobs. Since last year, few Palestinians have been permitted to work in Israel. Israeli bombing of factories there during its 22-day military offensive in January caused the loss of many jobs as well as workers’ lives.

Palestinians also marched in Jerusalem to protest Israeli destruction of their homes, the ongoing illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank, and the crisis of unemployment and impoverishment of their people.

South African workers commemorated May Day with 36 demonstrations nationwide. Workers there are engaged in strikes in the transport, metal, trucking and other industries. The Congress of South African Trade Unions has put forward a series of demands to the newly-elected African National Congress government headed by Jacob Zuma.

Unions in Nigeria organized rallies to protest privatization of oil refineries, cuts in subsidies on petroleum products, and for an increase in the minimum wage. A rally in Abuja brought out 20,000 workers.

Workers marched in many European countries.

Eight French unions organized 283 rallies of 1.2 million people in Paris, Bordeaux, Grenoble and elsewhere throughout the country. It was the first time since World War II that all the trade union confederations marched together. Union members in Marseille held banners which read: “They are the crisis! We are the solution!” This was the third national protest over the French government’s pro-bank, pro-corporate policies, and the lack of protections for workers who are being hard-hit by the economic crisis.

Rallies were held all over Greece. Strikers disrupted public transportation, ferry service and air flights in Athens, where thousands also marched. General Confederation of Greek Workers’ banners read, “We won’t pay for their crises!”

A march for jobs brought out 65,000 people in Madrid, Spain, in response to a 17 percent unemployment rate that is greatly affecting youth, immigrants and the elderly.

Throughout Latin America, marches, rallies and meetings took place. Whether in Panama, Honduras or Uruguay, workers demanded higher wages, better working conditions, unionization rights and cuts in prices of necessities.

In Puerto Rico, tens of thousands of workers, including members of at least 22 labor unions from the public and private sectors, marched in San Juan. A strike was called to protest the government’s firing of 30,000 workers and proposed anti-union legislation. Teachers, workers from the state-owned electrical and water companies, bus drivers, mechanics, firefighters and students participated. Left forces attended.

Thousands marched in Caracas and throughout Venezuela to celebrate International Workers’ Day. The National Front of Bolivarian Workers led the mile-long march in Caracas, which supported the revolutionary process and the government.

Venezuela President Hugo Chávez spoke to the huge crowd and stressed, “There’s no socialism without the working class ... solid, conscientious, and committed to what is being born in Venezuela, which is socialism.”

Hundreds of thousands marched in revolutionary Cuba.