- by Peter Farmer
- The Guardian
- Issue #2144
Naarm/Melbourne had two May Day events this year. On the day itself, a feast of music, speeches and performance at Trades Hall, featuring the Trade Union Choir, and a very energetic group of young comrades from the Phillipines. Comrade Agapi Pashos from the Greek Democritus Workers League spoke eloquently about the Tempi train crash in 2023.
Andrew Irving, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Australia spoke passionately about the need for a united workers’ movement in line with the spirit of the first May Day. Speakers also explained what was happening with imperialism in Latin America and the Philippines, and there was a big hand for union representatives from Timor L’este who had come to celebrate May Day with us.
On 4 May, Trades Hall had a May Day festival and march. Exhausted from election work the day before, the crowd was addressed by a very passionate Zach Smith of the CFMEU, who spoke about the treachery of the Labor-imposed administration, and the need to keep fighting for workers’ rights.
Melbourne Branch members kept busy selling Party literature and discussing politics with members of the crowd, as well as carrying the Party banner in the march.
