After Salford's excellent May Day rally and parade yesterday*, today sees the Manchester May Day Festival at the Mechanics Institute.
The day begins at 11am with a march from All Saints to the Mechanics Institute, followed by a rally at noon headlined by Unite the Union General Secretary, Len McCluskey, with other speakers including PCS's Clara Paillard, representatives from the Fire Brigades Union and the Youth Strike 4 Climate.
The afternoon is dedicated to a series of workshops and presentations under the four core themes of Organise, Empower, Transform and Build. And under all those banners is the predicament of residents caught in the mess and scandal of the dangerously cladded blocks at Pendleton, owned by Salford City Council.
At 3:30pm, in the Mary Quaile room at the Institute, there's an event titled Campaigns For Justice, which sees Eileen Turnbull talk on the Shrewsbury Pickets Victory, tenants union reps speaking on recent success against evictions, Ruth London of Fuel Poverty Action, and Pendleton's Graeme Langton, highlighting the campaign against cladding in Greater Manchester.
Graeme's speech, called Nightmare On Ellor Street, will begin by stating that "I, and many of my neighbours, feel very far from safe at the moment and with little belief in either Salford City Council or Pendleton Together". The Salford Star will carry a full report on the talk on Tuesday.
Other panel discussions include, in the Main Hall, under the Transforming the World theme, The nature of workplace racism and how we can fight it (1pm) with Dr Stephen Ashe (Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity) and Amira Taha, (UNISON National Black Members Coordinating Committee and Salford UNISON Black Members Officer); and, at 2:15pm, Protecting our world, focusing on Environment, Climate Change, Fracking and Anti Fracking.
At 3:30pm there's a North West UNISON International Rally 'Our place in the world Social progress and workers under attack in Latin America: Venezuela and Colombia' with Dr Francisco Dominguez (Venezuela Solidarity Campaign), Nick MacWilliam (Justice for Colombia) and Tracy Delaney (UNISON North West).
"May Day is an important tradition but it's not a celebration of the past it's an opportunity for workers to come together and share experiences, learn from each other and gather strength for future campaigns" says Manchester TUC President Ian Allinson "For all its historical significance the meaning of May Day lies in its contemporary relevance:
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"Much of the focus of the afternoon sessions is on organising and other practical activities" he explains "We want people to leave May Day inspired and equipped with new ideas and skills. We've got a fight on our hands. The political system is in turmoil, the far right is on the march and workers are in a daily battle with an economic system that has nothing to offer except worsening pay and conditions. May Day will give all of us the confidence to face these challenges head on."
Manchester may Day Festival Sunday 5th May, from noon
Manchester Mechanics Institute
103 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DD
For further details see the Facebook event page click here
*To read the Salford Star report on the Salford May Day Parade and Rally - click here
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