Winter Issue 2009 - cfmeu

M AY D AY R A L LY
HUGE CFMEU turnout for May Day 09!
We win the
Eureka battle again!
There was another battle of Eureka
at this years May Day parade, a
battle that we are glad to report was
won by the CFMEU. Some nontraditionalists
decided that they
would have their own version of the
famous eureka flag – a red colour
one instead of the famous original
blue flag. Blue won the day, as it
should.
In fact, there was a sea of blue flags
as far as the eye could see as
CFMEU members marched around
Fremantle on the day. It was great to
see so many families with their kids
enjoy themselves.
All our members proudly wore their
free CFMEU safety shirts to
highlight the importance of safety as
part of our theme for May 2009.
PART OF A GREAT HISTORY.
May Day is the international
celebration of organised labour.
Bonds of trade unionism spread
world-wide with the demand for
May Day to be recognised as a
celebration of workers' rights.
May Day originated during
the 1880s as unions
around the world united in the
struggle to obtain an 8-hour work
day for all. Following a long and
sometimes violent struggle, 1 May
was officially recognised as a day of
demonstration in 1893.
Australia's May Day activities
officially began in 1890, although
some workers had achieved the
eight hour day as early as 1856. As
more and more workers won the
reduction in hours by solidarity and
industrial action, the day was
proclaimed as a holiday in all the
states and became known as
Labour Day.
In 1948 when the State Labor Party
decided to move the holiday to
March and then to abandon the
procession altogether, Fremantle
stepped in. The port's unions
decided to continue the traditional
event in May and were joined by a
number of WA unions. Since 1952 it
has been one of the city's most
colourful demonstrations of working
class solidarity.
The BLF on the March
in 1981 – Still going strong!
WILL MAY DAY BE IN
FREMANTLE IN 2010?
New Fremantle City Council
regulations coming into effect will
mean that there will be a NO alcohol
policy on the Fremantle foreshore
next year – this may mean that after
so many years a new destination will
need to found for the annual May
Day parade. We think it is a wowser
policy – given that members won’t
be able to enjoy a few beers and
glass of wine at a BBQ with their
friends and family. Stay tuned for
updates.
BACK TO PERTH – HAVE YOUR
SAY!
Some thoughts are that if it has to
move from Fremantle then Perth
could be the venue, with the picnic
at Wellington Square, or the Perth
Esplanade
If you have any thoughts please
email them through to us at
editor@cfmeuwa.com
Turn the page for your souvenir lift-out Poster from May Day 2009
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Construction Worker – Winter 2009 Page 31
CFMEU