The second speaker at the 2021 Edinburgh and Lothians May Day Rally was musician and activist Sheena Wellington. Sheena spoke about the importance of the arts and culture in all their forms and the impact of the pandemic on workers in the industry.
Links to all 6 videos from the 2021 Edinburgh and Lothians May Day Rally
Part 1 – Gaby Jeliazkov
Part 2 – Sheena Wellington
Part 3 – Penny Stone
Part 4 – Kathy Jenkins
Part 5 – Roz Foyer
Part 6 – Calum Baird
After an introduction from Susan Morrison, the first speaker at the rally was Gabrielle Jeliazkov. Gaby works for Platform, London and is involved in campaigning for a Just Transition for workers in North Sea Oil and Gas. You can follow up on this here.
Links to all 6 videos from the 2021 Edinburgh and Lothians May Day Rally
Part 1 – Gaby Jeliazkov
Part 2 – Sheena Wellington
Part 3 – Penny Stone
Part 4 – Kathy Jenkins
Part 5 – Roz Foyer
Part 6 – Calum Baird
The May Day banner out on Workers Memorial Day 2021 – just two days to the rally on May 1st, 1pm – register for the online event here.
Eileen and Martin arrived in Edinburgh as students. In this video they talk about how the May Day march formed part of their introduction to the city, music, internationalism and Palestine Solidarity
Updated version of the flyer for this year’s May Day Rally – 1pm on Saturday 1st May. We’re delighted that the speakers now include Kathy Jenkins, Scottish Hazards and Zero Covid Scotland. Register for the rally here.
Feel free to use and share this artwork.
Derek Durkin argues for the importance of May Day and the necessity to rebuild the strength of workers organisation in the latest #maydaymatters video. Click here to register for the rally at 1pm on Saturday 1st May.
A short video message from Lynn Paterson, secretary of the Edinburgh and Lothians May Day organising group on why May Day matters.
Register for the rally by clicking here.
There has always been a strong tradition of international solidarity on May Day. At the Glasgow Rally in 1915 speeches were made in Russian, Yiddish, Lithuanian and Polish – red bow ties were sold to raise funds to help political prisoners in Russia. Then as now the Edinburgh and Scottish working class was made up of workers from around the world.
Around the world the 1st May is celebrated as annual festival of worker’s rights and solidarity.
The theme of Edinburgh and Lothians May Day 2021 is ‘The People’s Recovery’.
Originally May 1st was a pagan celebration of the return of summer. In the nineteenth century as the industrial revolution spread around the world, men women and children endured very long working days, often twelve hours or more. The idea of having a workers’ holiday celebration was born in Australia. mayday2021
In 1856 Australian workers organised a day of complete stoppage of work together with speeches and entertainment as a demonstration in favour of an eight-hour working day.
In 2021 we are fighting for social justice in the midst of the pandemic and in the teeth of a climate crisis that presents a threat to all our futures. A people’s recovery would mean an end the ravages of austerity, a new sustainable economy that puts people and planet before profit and secure homes, jobs and health. In Edinburgh, one of the richest cities in the world many people have none of these.
Saturday May 1st is International Workers Day – the annual Edinburgh rally will take place online. Confirmed speakers: Sheena Wellington (singer and activist), Roz Foyer (General Secretary, STUC), Gabi Jeliazkov (Platform). Compere – Susan Morrison; Music from Penny Stone (Edinburgh CND) and Calum Baird. Register via this link and you will be emailed a personal link for the Zoom meeting
Edinburgh and Lothians May Day 