Adam Leeman, Sydney
May Day rallies took place around Australia on the May 1-2 weekend. In Sydney, 1000 people marched, including contingents from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union and the firefighters' union.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) organised a "Save Medicare" contingent, and the Stop the War Coalition contingent highlighted the ongoing occupation of Iraq.
NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon spoke against the Iraq occupation, and condemned Prime Minister John Howard and NSW premier Bob Carr's attacks on unions.
Tony Iltis reports that 600 workers joined a spirited march through Melbourne. A prominent theme of the rally was defence of former AMWU state secretary Craig Johnson, who is threatened with imprisonment for defending members' jobs and conditions. Chants of "The workers united will never be defeated!" alternated with "Craig Johnson, here to stay!".
At City Square the march was addressed by ALP Senator Kim Carr and Socialist Alliance member Margarita Windisch, speaking on behalf of the Victorian Peace Network. Windisch reminded the crowd that as well as being the traditional day of workers' struggle, May 1 marked the first anniversary of George Bush's now totally discredited claim that the war in Iraq was over.
She asked why the government could not find money to fund health and education but could find billions to bring destruction to Iraq. Pointing to the example of Spain, she said that instead of waiting until Christmas (as Labor leader Mark Latham suggests), Australian troops should be withdrawn immediately.
Chris Williams reports from Wollongong that up to 300 people rallied under the theme "Health, education and heritage — fund communities not war". The rally marched via the Regent Theatre, which is subject to "green bans" by local unions who have declared that they will not allow a proposed redevelopment of the theatre to proceed.
In Adelaide, the 300-strong march was littered with red flags, reports Melanie Sjoberg. There were contingents from the No War group and No Nuclear Dump campaign.
From Green Left Weekly, May 5, 2004.
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