Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

May Day march for unionists

It was solidarity forever in Winnipeg Saturday as more than 200 people joined others around the world in annual May Day marches.

The local crowd marched behind police car escorts, making their way from city hall down Main Street, then circling through downtown before ending in Old Market Square.

Activist Nick Ternette fired up the crowd, chanting "the people, united, will never be defeated."

Before the march, labour activists implored the crowd to follow the day's theme -- Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities, Progress for all -- and highlighted the struggle for women's rights and opportunities.

"Tax cuts are sexist," said Marianne Cerilli, former NDP MLA and community activist, explaining the first programs and services cut are those that help women.

"Some people would say we've come a long way and we have... however, we still have a long way to go.

"We still don't have the right not to be fired when you get pregnant."

Denis Lemelin, national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, said workers are still fighting for "respect, justice and equality."

Lemelin said the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is one example of the wrong corporations can do.

"It's a shame -- these big corporations want to pollute the world. Shame on them," he said. "It's our responsibility as workers to say no to corporate greed."

Other events planned during this year's MayWorks Festival include a memorial service for Mike Sokolowski, who was killed during the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, and a bus tour about the strike -- both on May 9 -- and a picnic sponsored by the Winnipeg Labour Council on May 29.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 2, 2010 A12

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