Marches commemorate May Day

On May 3 and 4, marches were held in several Australian cities to mark May Day, a traditional day of workers' struggle.

In Sydney, around 2000 people rallied in Hyde Park on March 4 before marching, behind several trucks decorated with union banners, to Town Hall to hear speakers including Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) national secretary Doug Cameron.

Around 1000 marched in Perth on the same day, in a protest organised by Unions WA. Prominent contingents included the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), the AMWU, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Socialist Alliance.

Melbourne hosted an 800-strong march on May 4, dominated by contingents from migrant communities, left-wing groups and unions.

Led by a Scottish pipe band, 300 people joined the "Workers against War" May Day march through Wollongong on May 3. As the march was due to set off, renowned trade union activist Fred Moore announced that he was getting ready to hand over his long-held post of head marshal. He has named Socialist Alliance's Will Williams as his "apprentice".

"No to War and Racism!" was the theme of the May 3 Adelaide march, which was attended by around 300 people. The protesters marched with anti-war and union banners to Rymill Park. Speakers included "peace shield" Ruth Russell, NOWAR's Mike Khizam and long-time anti-war campaigner Professor Ian Maddocks. In Newcastle, 300 people gathered at Pacific Park to march to Club Nova for entertainment.

From Green Left Weekly, May 7, 2003.

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From GLW issue 536