MAY DAY / MAYDAY!
1. May Day
On Thursday, May 1, I am planning to attend a rally at the Denver State Capitol. It will be one of more than 800 National Day of Action rallies scheduled in big cities and small towns across America. The last time time I attended a May 1 event was probably 30+ years ago when my ex-husband and I both belonged to unions that were losing strength year after year. Not much has changed in that regard. Although the Biden Administration instituted strong pro-labor policies, the Trump presidency is decidedly anti -union. He is trying to strike child labor laws, deregulate dangerous industries, and eliminate organizing rights, as promised to his billionaire donors who donated several hundred million dollars to Trump’s political PACs.
2. Then and Now:
On May 1 in 1886, more than 300,000 American workers across the country walked off the job to protest inhumane labor conditions. This was during the industrial revolution when the rapid growth of i industries led to horrible, even risky, conditions for men, women, and children who worked long hours, often six days per week. In many ways, some of those conditions are returning. Child labor laws are being relaxed, wages have been stagnant for years. Most of us can point to people who work two and three jobs but barely are able to pay for basic living expenses. Meanwhile, CEO’s are paid an average of 300% more than their workers. With that American walkout in 1886, the 19th Century labor movement was born, and eventually spread around the world. Working conditions improved in many countries over time but, it wasn’t until 1938 that the Fair Labor Standards Act set federal minimum wages, restricted child labor, and led the rise of our large labor unions.
This year’s May Day activities will be unique in that they will protest much more than unfair labor practices. Yes, Trump and his Christian Nationalists are using the Project 2025 script to take away our rights to work safely and to earn a fair wage. But, beyond that, they are stripping away our Constitutional rights and preparing a budget that shifts even more wealth from workers to the very wealthy.
3. MAYDAY!
(The word “Mayday” originates from “Maidez” which is French for “help me.” It first came to English in 1923, as a replacement for SOS, at a time of increased air traffic between England and France and was adopted by the U.S. in 1927 as the official distress call.)
Every day is MAYDAY in America as long as the fascist Trump Christian Nationalists are in power! Our country is in distress, but people are increasingly answering the MAYDAY call with rallies, protests, marches, sit-ins and lawsuits. Together we can defeat them.
It is MAYDAY for Immigrants! It is MAYDAY for Medicare. It is MAYDAY for Medicaid! It is MAYDAY for Social Security. It is MAYDAY for Due Process. It is MAYDAY for the courts! It is MAYDAY for Education. It is MAYDAY for workers! It is MAYDAY for health care! It is MAYDAY for our environment! It is MAYDAY for the Economy! It is MAYDAY for DEI!
Please answer the MAYDAY call on Thursday, May 1 at a National Day of Action rally near you!