Published 27 Apr, 2011
On May 1, international workers day, TWU members wearing “Imagine No Workers” buttons will take to the streets of major cities nationwide to remind people that they rely on workers to drive their buses, fix their planes and keep the rails safe. The mobilization will kick off a month of national conversations in which people will be asked to imagine life without workers.
May 1 became an internationally celebrated holiday to commemorate the struggle for the eight-hour day that began in America in 1886 during a nationwide strike for shorter work hours.
For the last 5 years, workers—especially immigrant workers— have been demonstrating every May Day to demand fair treatment, respect and a voice. These rallies and marches have brought out hundreds of thousands of people everywhere from small towns to the nation’s largest cities. These marches have been driven by the same spirit of activism and commitment that is now driving the fightback in Wisconsin, Ohio and every other community nationwide that is beating back the attacks on workers.
That is why TWU members in New York City, Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, DC and cities nationwide will be hitting the streets this coming Sunday. To find the May Day event near you, go here or here.
The May Day mobilization is part of the TWU Workers’ Rights=Human Rights campaign and builds our movement by connecting us to a broader coalition, in this case immigrant workers fighting to stop racial profiling and unjust deportation, who have designated May 1 as “A Day Without a Worker.” Participants are carrying on the spirit of Wisconsin by resisting the relentless attacks taking place against public and private sector union members, immigrants, and all working families across the United States.
Throughout the month of May, TWU members will wear “Imagine No Workers” buttons to work. We will ask members of the public (the people who rely on our services every day), politicians and our bosses to think about what it would be like if our members were not there and the workers they rely on every day. It will make people aware of what the attacks on collective bargaining and the mass layoffs really mean for society and working families.
To find a May 1 rally near you see event listings http://local.we-r-1.org/weareone and http://maydayunited.org