CPS May Day Statement 2013

7/30/2019 CPS May Day Statement 2013

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CPSMay

Day

Statement

2013

Also:StatementofCommunistPartyofCanadaandtheWorld

Federationof

Trade

Unions

DonCurrie,EditorFocusOnSocialism,ChairCPS

April30,2013

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca


2/14

CanadiansforPeace&Socialism

CPSMay

Day

Statement

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

Box168SlocanBCV0G2C0

Canada

12503552669

BelowaretheMayDaystatementsoftheCommunistPartyofCanada(CPC)andtheWorldFederationofTradeUnions

(WFTU).These

statements

promote

aclass

struggle

line

for

organized

labor

to

confront

and

throw

back

the

attempt

of

financecapitaltomakeallworkers,organizedandunorganizedtemporaryallwagessubstandardandallworking

conditionsofallworkingpeopleeverywhere,regardlessoftheiroriginorhomeland,19thcentury.

TodayCanadianworkerscanbefoundlabouringinmanycountriesandonallcontinents.Andworkersfromall

continentslabourinCanada.

ThereisonlyoneworkingclassandasMarxasserted,ithasnohomelandbecausetheentireinternationalworkingclass,

organized

and

unorganized

wherever

it

finds

itself

within

the

system

of

global

capitalism,

is

exploited

by

state

monop0ly

capitalism.Thatistheclassbasisforinternationalism.

Themovementofworkersallovertheworldseekingworkisagrowingphenomenon.Thephenomenon,loosely

definedbybourgeoiseconomistsaslabourmobility,isanobjectivestatemonopolycapitalist(imperialist)economic

processassociatedwiththeextremeinternationalizationoffinancecapitalinthe21stcenturywhichinitspracticeofwar

andexploitationruinsentireeconomiescreatingmassesofunemployedstatelessanddesperateworkersseekinga

marketfortheirlabourpower.

Whetherfinancecapitalplansitornotisimmaterial.Intheinterestsofmaximizingprofitcapitaliststakeadvantageof

workersthrownoutofworkandcompelledtoseekalivingwherethereiswork.

Statemonopolycapitalistgovernments,suchastheConservativegovernmentofPrimeMinisterStephenHarper,enact

laws,alternativelycriminalizingworkersorturningablindeyetoemployersthatmercilesslyexploitdefencelessworkers

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca CPSMayDayStatement2013 Page2of14
http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/


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thatarriveinourcountry.TheConservativegovernmentseekstoattempttoregulatethemovementoflabourinthe

interestsofemployersbutdoesnothingtoprotecttheworkersoncetheyarehere.

NotsatisfiedwithmakinghighprofitsoutoflowwagetemporarylabourinCanada,bankers,industrialistsandinvestors

exploitlowwagelabourinothercountries.

ThetragedythatunfoldedinBangladeshistraceabletoeveryG7capitalincludingthePMOinOttawaandtotheoffice

ofeveryCanadianbankandcorporationthatdoesbusinessinlowwagejurisdictions.TheBangladeshtragedyisalso

traceabletotheacademicsandthinktanksinourcountryfundedbythesesamebanksandcorporationswhoarepaid

welltospintheoriesaboutthesuperiorityoftheglobalmarketeconomyanditsbenefitsforinvestors.

WhetherinCanadaorBangladesh,workersarecompelledtoselltheirlabourpowertolive.Wagelabour,whetherhigh

paidorlowpaidcreatesvalueintheproductionprocesswhichtheprivateownersofthemeansofproduction

appropriate. Whenlabourislowpaidwithoutbenefitsunderslavelikeconditionsitmakessuperprofitsforprivate

investors.

Academicswouldsoongettoknowwhatunemploymentis,iftheyweretohavethecouragetotracehowmany

mutualfunds,stocksandinvestorgroupsfatteneveryyearoutoftragediessuchasoccurredlastweek.

Capitalismhas

no

conscience,

no

moral

code

no

redeeming

pretty

face.

Thecapitalistrequireshumanlabourtoprofiteer.Itispurchasedinthemarketplaceforascheaplyasitcanbehad.

Capitalismasasystemceasestobetheprofitsystemwithoutexploitablelabour.Thereisnosuchthingasafairwage.

Wagesinitselfisasymptomofagrosslyunfairsystem.

Thecapitalistbuyslabourpowernotlabouringeneral,andbuysinthemarketplaceasanyothercommodityforusein

production.Thecapitalistbuyslabourpowerforadefinednumberofhoursaday.Partofthedayworkersreceive

wages,justenoughsotheycanworkagain.Therestofthedaytheyworkfornothingforthepurchaseroftheirlabour

powerandintheprocessofproductioncreatesurplusvalueduringtheperiodofunpaidlabourthatthebosses

appropriateandrealizeasprofitthroughthesaleofcommoditiesinthemarket.

Surplusvaluebecomesrealizedinthemarketasprofitpartofwhichthecapitalistandtheirhangerson,usetolive

lavishly,idlyandparasiticallyandanotherpartbecomescapitalthatisreinvestedtoensurecontinuousproduction.


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Capital,createdbyunpaidlabourtime,isusedbytheprivateownersofthemeansofproductiontobuildfactories,pay

forwearandtearonmachines,purchaserawmaterialsallofwhichiscontinuouslyconsumedintheproductionprocess.

Nonewvalueiscreatedwithoutlabour.

Workersundercapitalismcreateallofthewealth,allofthewages,allofthecapital,allofthestateandgovernmental

revenues.Everythingthatissociallyusefulandnecessaryisattributabletolabourandunpaidlabourtime.Finance

capital,themergerofbankandindustrialcapital,isthebeneficiaryofcapitalistproductionsolelybecauseoftheprivate

ownershipofthemeansofproductionandthewealthitproduces.

Theeconomywouldcontinuetoexistwithoutcapitalists.Whereandwhenitdoes,iscalledsocialism.

Capitalistsdoeverythingintheirpowertopreventtheriseofsocialismandtostampitoutwhereitemergesforone

overridingreason,theyceasetobeaclassofcapitalistsanddisappearfromhistorywhenthey,theexpropriatorsare

expropriated.

TheNDPerasingthewordsocialismfromthepreambleofitsconstitutiondidnothingtoeraseitfromhistory.

Thesetruthsarewhatthecapitalistclassanditsapologistsseektoobscure.Themainwaytheydoitisthroughthe

ideologicalpropagandafogoftheideologyofclasslessnessendlesslypromotedbythemassmedia.

Unabletohomogenizesocietyintoaclasslessequalopportunitymyththepropagandistsofcapitalismnowattemptto

homogenizesocietyintoonemiddleclass.

TheworkingclassisnotthemiddleclassastheLiberalstheNDPandevensomelabourleadersassert.

Themiddleclassstandsbetweentheworkingclassandthecapitalistclass.Itisanhistoricallyevolvedclassoftenboth

ownerandproducer,sometimesprofessionallytrainedtoservethesystem,sometimesincludingworkerswhohave

acquiredproperty

and

can

live

more

on

investment

than

wage

labour.

The

middle

class

is

often

ruined

by

state

monopolycapital,isheavilytaxedandoftendrivendownintotheranksoflabour.Thereitbecomesonceagainwage

labour.

CapitalisminitsmonopolystageastheCommunistManifestopredicted165yearsagohasbecomepolarized:


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Ourepoch,theepochofthebourgeoisie,possesses,howeverthisdistinctivefeature.Ithassimplifiedtheclassantagonisms.Societyasawholeismoreandmoresplittingupintotwogreathostilecamps,intotwogreatclassesdirectlyfacingeachotherbourgeoisieandproletariat.ChapterOneMarxandEngelsCommunistManifesto.

Themodernworkingclassseekstounitewithallantimonopolymiddleclassforces,touniteallpeoplewhoare

exploitedbymonopolyandinthefirstplacefarmerswhoworktheland,theselfemployed,smallbusinesses,

intellectualsandprofessionalswhocontributetosociety.

Canadianworkers,menwomenandyouthfromallprovincesandregions,handinhandwithworkerswhohavecome

toCanada

in

search

of

abetter

life,

just

as

our

forbears

did,

are

resisting

the

attempts

of

finance

capital

to

rob

them

of

theirdreamsofhappinessandwellbeing.

Today,intheHouseofCommons,theConservativeGovernmentofPrimeMinisterStephenHarper,actingforasmall

eliteofwealthyCanadianandforeigninvestorsoutlineditslatestantipeopleprogramofausterity,mass

unemployment,cutstosocialprograms,soastocontinuetospendwithoutlimitonIMFbankinschemesand

readinesstoparticipateinthenextUSNATOwar.

The

Conservative

Government,

upholding

the

parasitism

and

idleness

of

the

rich

colludes

with

the

likes

of

US

Steel

that

haslockedoutathousandHamiltonOntarioCanadiansteelworkersandplanstotransfertheirjobstotheUSA.

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamiltonnanticokelockout.html

AtthesametimetheConservativeGovernmentofPrimeMinisterStephenHarperhasrestrictedunemployment

insurancebenefitsnowavailabletoonly40%ofunemployedworkerswiththeaimofforcingoutofworkCanadiansto

acceptjobsthatpay15to30%lessoftheirpreviouswage.http://www.canadianlabour.ca/news

room/statements/clcsupportingprotestsagainstharmfuleichangesausterity

TheConservativeGovernmentofPrimeMinisterHarperactsforwealthandprivilegeagainsttheworkingclassandthe

urbanandruralmiddleclasses.ThePrimeMinisterdoessoonbehalfofthesystemhesofaithfullyserves,state

monopolycapitalismimperialism.

TheanswertothePrimeMinisterandthefinancecapitalistinterestsherepresentsisoutlinedinthestatementsbelow.
http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.htmlhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/clc-supporting-protests-against-harmful-ei-changes-austerityhttp://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamilton-nanticoke-lockout.html


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OnthisMayDay,asinalloftheMayDayspastandintheMayDaystocomeworkerswillcontinuetoraisethebannerof

classdefiance,forapeacefulandrationalandjustdevelopmentoftheeconomyforall,forgenuineandlastingpeace,for

friendshipand

solidarity

with

workers

everywhere,

irrespective

of

national,

racial

origin,

gender

or

religious

conviction

whowantandstruggleforthesamegoals anewsystemwithouthumanexploitation.

Unitedwewillwin!

DonCurrie,Chair,CPS

EditorFocusonSocialism


7/14


LABOURANDPEOPLESUNITYCANDEFEATAUSTERITY

MayDay

2013

message

from

the

Communist

Party

of

Canada

OnMayDay,theInternationalWorkersDay,theCommunistPartyofCanadaextendswarmest

solidaritytoallthoseinstruggleagainstcapitalistausterityandwar.

ThesystemiccrisisofcapitalisminCanadaandinternationallycontinuestodeepen,reflectedin

everwideningsocialdisparity,intensifiedeconomicandsocialattacksagainstthepeople,fresh

assaultsonlabouranddemocraticrights,thefurtherdegradationofthenationalandglobal

environment,

and

increasing

militarism,

aggression

and

war.

Theausteritypoliciespursuedbyrulingcirclesintheleadingimperialiststates,includingCanada,to

resuscitateeconomicactivityandprofitsonthebacksoftheworkingclassandworkingpeoplein

general,havefailedmiserably.TheeconomiesoftheU.S.,EuropeandJapan thetripodepicentre

ofthisglobalcrisis remainstagnantorindecline.Thecrisisandtheintense,allsidedoffensive

launchedbytherulingclassareexactingaheavyeconomic,social,culturalphysical,psychological

andenvironmentalcostonallhumanity.

Themaintargetofthisantisocialoffensiveofcapitalistheworkingclass,especiallyitsorganised

section,thetradeunionmovement.Itisalsofallsheavilyonwomen,youthandstudents,indigenous

peoples,immigrantsandmigrants,pensionersandtheelderly,peasantsandsmallfarmers,the

extremepoorandmarginalizedsectionsofthepeople,andonallthosereliantonthesocial

functionsandservicesofcapitaliststates benefitswonthroughmanydecadesofhardstruggle.

Thiscapitalistoffensiveiscreatinganatmosphereofinsecurityanddesperationamongwide

sectionsoftheworkingclassandthepeople,butitisalsogivingrisetoincreasedresistance.Labour

andmassdemocraticstrugglesacrossEuropehavebeenmarkedbycountlessgeneralstrikes,mass

demonstrationsandfactoryoccupations.MillionshavecomeoutintothestreetsofGreece,Spain,

Portugal,France,Britain,Italy,Cyprusandelsewheretodemandjobs,decentwagesandpensions,to

defendlabourrights,toinsistontherestorationofhealth,educationandotherpublicservices,and


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todenouncetheausteritypoliciesdictatedbytheEUatthebehestofEuropeanbankersand

monopolists.

ThecounteroffensiveoflabourandpeoplesmovementsisalsogrowingacrossCanada.Thehistoric

Qubecstudentstrikeandsocialstrugglewhichtookplacein2012,andtheCanadawideIdleNo

MoreprotestsofAboriginalpeoplesandtheirsupportersareparticularlysignificant.Theseand

manyothermobilizationsindefenceoflabour,socialandequalityrights,andtheenvironment,signal

aqualitativechangeinthemoodoftheworkingclassanditsalliestofightbackagainsttheausterity

agendaofcapitalanditsgovernments.

Today,the

issue

of

working

class

unity

has

become

critical,

as

the

big

corporations

attempt

to

pit

sectionsofworkersagainsteachother.Evenastherulingclassremovesanybarrierstothemobility

ofcapitalandinvestments,newobstaclesareerectedagainstthelegalrightsofworkerstomove

acrossbordersinsearchofbetteremploymentopportunities.Instead,theHarperConservatives

havedramaticallyboostedtheTemporaryForeignWorkersProgram,aimingtoprovidecheaplabour

foremployers,andkeepoverallwagelevelslow.Atthesametime,rightwingforcesfantheflames

ofracism,blamingmigrantsforhighunemploymentanddeclininglivingstandards.Theenemyof

Canadianworkersisnotoursistersandbrothersfromothercountries,butrathertheantiworker

policiesof

the

federal

government

and

the

big

corporations.

May

Day

2013

should

see

a

powerful

rejectionofthisracistdivideandrulecapitaliststrategy,andacallforunityofallworkers employed

andunemployed,organizedandunorganized,AboriginalandnonAboriginal,youngandold,ofall

gendersandnationalorigins,includingmigrantworkers.

Theshifttotheuseoftemporary,nonunionizedworkers,paidminimalwagesandbenefits,ispartof

awiderreactionaryagendawhichtheHarpergovernment,anditsprocorporatecounterpartsatthe

provincialandmunicipallevels,arecarryingthroughonbehalfoffinancecapital.Theirgoalisto

acceleratethe

accumulation

of

capital

through

every

conceivable

means

(privatization,

state

restructuring,corporatetaxcuts,etc.),andtoweakenandsuppressworkingclassandpopular

resistance.


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Lestweforget,thefirsttargetofthenewHarpermajorityafterthe2011electionwasorganized

labour(CUPW,theAirCanadaandCPRailworkers,etc.).

Harperswaronlabourinthefederaljurisdictiongaveagreenlighttorightwingprovincialand

municipalgovernmentstodemandthatworkersyieldconcessionsorfacethelegislativehammer,

suchasOntariosattackonthebargainingrightsofteachers.Since1982,federalandprovincial

governmentsinCanadahavepassed199piecesoflegislationtorestrict,suspendordenycollective

bargainingrights.Whatisqualitativelynewisthespeed,ferocityandpunitivenatureofthese

legislativeattacks.

Atits

core,

this

offensive

aims

at

crippling

and

ultimately

destroying

the

organized

labour

movement.ThefederalpassageofC377,requiringunionstodisclosesalaries,timespentonpolitical

activitiesandexpenses,wasonlythebeginning.TherearenowominoussignalsthattheHarper

Conservativesarepreparingtoimposerighttoworklegislationonallworkersunderfederal

jurisdiction.

Fromtheperspectiveoftherulingclass,theweakeningofthetradeunionmovementisthekeyto

reducingthecostoflabourpower,andnotonlyamongorganizedworkers.Theyknowthatsuch

reductionswill

put

tremendous

downward

pressure

on

the

wages

and

incomes

of

all

workers,

most

ofwhomhavenounionprotection.Financecapitalrealizesthatthelabourmovement becauseof

itssize,resourcesandabilitytotakejobaction istheonlysocial/classforcecapableofunitingbroad

sectionsofthepeopleagainstitsoffensive.

Thestruggleagainstrampagingmilitarism,aggressionandwarmustalsobeacentralfocusofthe

labourandpeoplesfightback.AsthisMayDayapproaches,threatsoffreshimperialistaggression

againstSyria,IranandtheDPRKareescalating.Wearecalledupontoopposethisgrowingwar

danger,to

defend

the

national

sovereignty

of

all

countries,

and

to

condemn

the

drive

to

militarization,alongwiththechauvinist,antiterrorrhetoricusedtojustifyit.ThisMayDay,we

expressunwaveringsolidaritywithsocialistCuba,theBolivarianRevolutioninVenezuelaandwithall

progressiveandantiimperialistforcesandmovementsaroundtheworld!


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Thelabourmovementisthekeytobuildingbroadstrugglesfortherightsofallworkers,forjobsand

improvedlivingstandards,indefenceofsocialservicesandprograms,forgenderequality,forjustice

forAboriginal

peoples,

for

young

peoples

right

to

an

education

and

a

future,

for

genuine

environmentalprotection,andforaforeignpolicybasedonpeaceanddisarmament.

Buttheoverallstateoflaboursfightbackhassofarbeeninsufficient.Morethanfiveyearsintothe

currentcrisis,theCLCunderKenGeorgetti(andtheleadersofsomeimportantunions)haveyetto

drawtheentirelabourmovementanditssocialpartnerstogetherintoabroadlabourcommunity

commonfrontagainstausterity.Instead,theCLCisfocussingonorganizingpoliticalaction

conferencestolineuplabourparticipationintheNDPselectoralmachineforthe2015general

election.

TheCommunistPartyurgestheCLCanditskeynationalaffiliatestoactnowtobuildthe

extraparliamentaryfightbackbyconveninganemergencylabour&peoplessummit,bringing

togethertheentiretradeunionmovement(includingthenonaffiliatedlabourcentralsinQubec)

anditssocialpartners Aboriginalpeoples,women,youth&students,peace,environmentaland

LGBTQactivists,seniorsandothermassdemocraticmovements.

Recentexperiences

show

that

it

is

quite

possible

to

build

a

stronger

labour

resistance

against

the

corporateoffensive,andtowinbroadsupportfromcommunityallies.Despitetheadverse

conditionsandsubjectiveweaknesses,manylabourandpopularmovementsarebecomingever

morevibrantandmilitant.Newforcesarecomingintothefightback.Militanttacticsand

coalitionbuildingcanmovelabourfromadefensiveposturetowardsafightingstrategyof

mobilizingtheentireworkingclassanditsalliestoblocktherightwingagendaandtomoveontothe

counteroffensive.

Whilesituations

elsewhere

cannot

be

mechanically

replicated

in

Canada,

militant,

class

struggle

trade

unionismseeninGreeceandothercountriesshouldinspireunionactivistshere.ACanadawide

commonfrontagainstthecorporate/governmentattackinturncanwinwidersupportforthegoal

ofalabourledPeoplesCoalitiontounitebroadsectionsofthepeoplesmovements,notarounda

nostalgicreturntoarosyKeynesianpast,butratheraroundaplatformofradicalprogressive


11/14


demands,andforafundamentalchallengetotheeconomicandpoliticalhegemonyoffinance

capital,bothdomesticandinternational.

AswesalutethestrugglesofworkersinallcountriesonMayDay2013,theCommunistPartyof

Canadaisconfidentthelabourandpeoplesunitycandefeatausterityandwar!

ContacttheCommunistPartyofCanada

290ADanforthAve.Toronto,OntarioM4K1N6

Phone4164692446,[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


12/14

MayDayStatementofWorldFederationofTradeUnions 2013

TheWorldFederationofTradeUnionsappealstoallthetradeunionorganizationsintheworldto

organizeon

the

occasion

of

May

Day

2013

rallies

and

activities

in

all

countries,

in

all

continents,

honoringtheInternationalWorkersDayandthemartyrsoftheworkingclass.TheWFTUproposes,

basedonitsresolutionatitsPresidentialCouncilMeetingonMarch78,2013inLimaPeru,theslogan:

CHICAGOSHOWEDUSTHEWAYtobeusednexttotherespectiveslogansofeachunion

organization.

http://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpghttp://www.parti-communiste.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/mayday2013.jpg


13/14


Theinternationaltradeunionmovementbearsgreatresponsibilitytoprotectanddefendthe

InternationalWorkersDayfromtheeffortsofcapitalistgovernments,employers,variousinstitutions

andnon

governmental

organizations

to

vanquish

this

day

or

completely

alter

its

meaning.

TheMayDayisfortheinternationalworkingclassaSYMBOLoftheirreplaceablerolethatthe

workersholdinthesocietyandtheproduction,oftheimportantandthevictoriousachievementsof

theclassstruggleshistorically,ofthefactthatalltherightsarethefruitofbloodystruggles.Nothing

washandedovertotheworkingpeople.

TheMayDayisaDAYOFMEMORYANDTRIBUTEtothemartyrsoftheworkingclasswhosacrificed

themselvesin

the

crucial

and

decisive

strikes

of

the

American

workers

in

Chicago

(1886)

demanding

8hoursofwork,8hoursofrecreation,8hoursofrest,aswellasthestrugglesfortheworkinghours

inmanycountriesallovertheworldbeforeandaftertheChicagostrikes,throughoutthehistoryof

theclassstruggleuntiltoday.Wepaytributetothemartyrsoftheworkingclasswhowerekilled,

tortured,imprisonedandwereforciblydisappearedbytheantipopularandantilaborgovernments

ofthecapitalinallcontinents.

TheMayDayisaLESSONFORTHENEWGENERATIONSthatincludestheprinciplesoftheworking

classsuch

as

the

proletarian

internationalism,

the

class

unity,

the

irreplaceable

value

of

the

decisive

struggleswithclassorientation.

Mostofall,theMayDayisaDAYOFSTRUGGLEwheretheInternationalWorkingClassmeetsinthe

streetsofthefightforthecontemporarylabourandsocialrights.Fortherighttolessworkinghours

withdignifiedsalarieswhichwasrealisticinthe1880sandcannotbeunrealisticinthetechnological

progressofthe21stcentury!

Nowadays,whilecapitalismbeinginitsdeepcrisisexposesinallthespectrumitsbarbaric,brutaland

ruthlessfaceconfiscatinganyounceofrightfromtheworkingclassandthepopularstrata;

Nowadaysthatthecompetitionofthemonopoliescreatesmorebattlefieldsandnewimperialist

interventions;Nowadaysthatthestateviolence,repressionofsocialandlabourstrugglesandthe

violationofthetradeunionfreedomescalateinternationallyletsmove:


14/14


ChicagoshowedthewayNOtothecontemporarycapitalistslavery

We

fight

for

a

world

without

exploitation

of

men

by

men

OnMayDay,theWFTUexpressesitsinternationalistsolidaritywiththepeopleofCuba,Palestine,

Syria,Lebanon,Mali,Colombia,Venezuelaetc.

Documents

CPS May Day Statement 2013