Newcastle trade unionists celebrate May Day in style

Morning Star, Monday 5 May 2008

Hundreds of trades unionists and supporters marched through central Newcastle on Saturday May 3 for the annual Tyne and Wear May Day rally.

The colourful 200-strong march was led by a local brass band with banners visible from Unite, UNISON, UCATT, UCU, NUT, CWU, PCS, Newcastle TUC and the Communist Party of Britain.

At the Exhibition Park rally, Unite national transport officer Graham Stevenson warned new Tory Mayor Boris Johnson against banning strikes in essential services.

“Banning tube workers from action will be a threat to London’s 30,000 bus workers too,” said .  “Unite won’t take that lying down.  Secondary action may be illegal, but watch this space.  Boris beware!”

Speaking at the Tyne and Wear May Day rally in Newcastle, Mr Stevenson also congratulated NUT members in their recent strike action for giving pupils the very best lessons they could have.

“Annual inflation 4 per cent, annual pay rise 4 per cent, result happiness.  Annual inflation 4 per cent, annual pay rise, 2 per cent, result misery,” he said, paraphrasing novelist Charles Dickens.

Also speaking at the rally, Stop the War Coalition convenor Lindsey German condemned the government’s plans for 42-day detention for terror suspects, warning:“This will only criminalise the Muslim community, just like the Irish community was criminalised during the Troubles.”

"Even more dangerous is the rise of racism, particularly against Muslims”, she continued.  “Attacks on Muslims are increasing, and the BNP now has its first member of the London Assembly,” she said.

For the full text of Graham Stevenson's speech, click here.