EuroMayDay

EuroMayDay is a political day of action against precarity promoted by a network of feminist, anti-capitalist and migrant groups and collectives in mostly Western Europe. It takes place on 1 May each year, May Day, traditionally a celebration of solidarity among workers across the world. EuroMayDay has been promoted as an attempt to "update" the traditional May Day by focusing on flex and temp workers, migrants and other "precarious" people living in Europe.

History

In 2005, the EuroMayDay network used the slogan Precarious people of the world let's unite and strike 4 a free, open, radical Europe. The Middlesex Declaration of Europe's Precariat emerged from the Beyond ESF event held in parallel to the European Social Forum held in London in October 2004.

Background

EuroMayDay originated in Milan, from where it first spread to Barcelona in 2004, and then to a dozen cities all over Europe in 2005. It has been claimed that the number of participants has increased from 5000 people in Milan in 2001 to 50,000 in 2003, and 100,000 in 2004 (Milan and Barcelona together). In 2005, approximately 200,000 people took part in EuroMayDay demonstrations and actions, mostly in Western Europe. In 2006, while some groups dropped out of the process, the number of cities participating grew to involve 300,000 young demonstrators in the EuroMayDay parades held in twenty EU cities. EuroMayDay groups exist in many different cities. Signatories include Für eine linke Strömung, the chainworkers, Syndikalistiska Ungdomsförbundet, and ACT! unterstützt Zapatistas.

References

External links

• Euromayday Call
• Belgian Euromayday Process
• French Euromayday Process
• Berlin / Germany Euromayday Process
• Middlesex Declaration of Europe's Precariat 2004
• Precarity and n/european Identity