May Day protesters demand more job protections amid pandemic

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By NICHOLAS GARRIGA, NINIEK KARMINI and JOHN LEICESTER

PARIS (AP) — Workers and union leaders dusted off bullhorns and flags that had stayed furled during coronavirus lockdowns for slimmed down but still boisterous — and at times violent — May Day marches on Saturday, demanding more labor protections amid a pandemic that has turned economies and workplaces upside down.

In countries that mark May 1 as International Labor Day, the annual celebration of workers’ rights produced a rare sight during the pandemic: large and closely packed crowds, with marchers striding shoulder-to-shoulder with clenched fists behind banners.

In Turkey and the Philippines, police prevented the May Day protests, enforcing virus lockdowns and making hundreds of arrests. In France, some marchers battled with riot police.

For labor leaders, the day was a test of their ability to mobilize workers in the face of the profound economic disruptions.



Communists party supporters gather with red flags to mark Labour Day, also knows as May Day near Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-europe-pandemics-lifestyle-coronavirus-2fb00696e7069aa6342ae2135ac6f7d9

[BigmanPigman]

1. I remember attending a May Day March at Washington Sq, NYC.

This was in the 80s, I wonder if they still have them there or maybe at Union Sq.