Whew, what a week. A long cold one went down well after the May Day Parade. An ambitious week of events had just concluded and the Saturday of the parade had been clear and warm, unlike the cold rainy days of the week before.

May Week began April 23 and 24th with a one-man play CuFu? (Sicilian for ‘Who Did It?’) performed as a Dinner theatre engagement at the Santa Maria Goretti Centre in the heart of Edmonton’s little Italy. This one-man musical presentation of growing up Sicilian working class in Hamilton entertained several hundred guests over the two days.

A rally and teach-in on the plight of Mumia Abu Jamal, an Afro-American Journalist and activist on death row in the United States was held on Saturday afternoon April 24 as part of an International day of Action to save Jamal’s life. Nigerian dancers, free food provided by Food Not Bombs, gave the meeting a festive air, while speakers and a film about Jamal made it clear that we must mobilize to save Jamal’s life and combat racism where ever it is found. The fact that dock workers in the United States had shut down the west coast ports in solidarity with Jamal showed that the labour movement can add our very real power to these struggles.

John Clarke organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty who was to speak on Monday was postponed to a later date, as he had to return to England to deal with a family emergency.

Karl Beveridge presented a two hour lecture on labour and art at Latitude 53 Gallery as part of the show; Political Landscapes that he had done with his partner Carol Conde.

We were regaled with music in a workshop on labour songs, again at the Cabaret and on sound trucks during the May Day parade by the veteran labour folk singer George Hewison.

George has linked labour music and labour activism for almost four decades; he is currently the Secretary Treasurer-CAW/UFAWU BC.

George has released three albums; sang on picket lines/demos/rallies across Canada’ and has performed at concerts, workshops, and tours throughout Canada, US and Europe. He has written music for and performed in musical theatre for nearly thirty years.

George is the founder of the Rank n File Band which performed at every one of the 11 Days of Protest against the Mike Harris Tories.

George was fresh off the CBC picket lines and performed at the CLC Convention and the CUPE Ontario Division Convention in London Ontario.

The Friday night Cabaret was a real Wobbly affair. Interspersed between a great selection of labour songs by Hewison and our very own Guy Smith and John Riley and his band the Urban Coyotes, there was poetry readings and two acts from a play in process about the 1919 Edmonton General Strike. Don Bouzek’s play touched our hearts as the struggle of yesteryear was brought home to all who watched. This was our city and workers ran it for over a month. Don didn’t gloss over the clash between the IWW, One Big Union and the craft unions of the day. And for a touch of authenticity the Edmonton Branch of the IWW was present selling T-Shirts and literature.

The May Day march put the issue of Pay Equity front and centre with puppets newly created for the march and CUPE Local 474’s giant man and woman. Banners and signs festooned the march and two sound trucks provided the marchers with music performed by George and Guy. Chants of "Hey, Hey Ho Ho Capitalism Has Got To Go" echoed down the streets.

The march stopped not once, but twice to hear speakers. First at Canada Place where Sisters of PSAC and other unions denounced the government for it’s failure to enact Pay Equity.

Then the march moved on to city hall where more music was played by the usual suspects and a young Filipna activist; Tanya Gurrero, with the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines and a member of the First of May (KMU) Movement (the largest independent trade union in the Philippines), gave a rousing speech against globalization and imperialism. Tanya was one of three students in Edmonton on their way to the national conference of the SCM in Toronto.

Signs and speakers also denounced the NATO bombings in Yugoslavia.

Though only about 300 people attended, the puppets and banners made it look like thousands. Photos have been posted on the May Day on the Web page.

Don Bouzek must be congratulated for all his efforts. His role in developing May Week was supported in part by a Community Artists in Residence grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

The EDLC received funding to allow Don to create video and theatre projects with them during this spring. For May Week he collaborated with well known visual artist Lynette Maurice, who has created spectacle for local organizations ranging from First Night to Folk Fest. Together they made the Day of Mourning and the May Day March real celebrations of a Workers Spring.

The Edmonton District Labour Council and all the committee members who put in countless hours have to be congratulated for their endeavours.

We look forward to May Day 2000, since the CLC and the ICTFU have declared it a day of International Solidarity and Action.

May Day on the Web

May Day on the Web is a project of the Edmonton & District Labour Council (EDLC) and the Edmonton May Week Committee.

The Web Page linked events in Edmonton as well as announcements and events across Canada and around the world. Launched last year the page has an ongoing online art show, message board and links to events around the world. It was awarded the Political Web Site of the Day as well as receiving numerous other awards.

Check out the photos from this year’s parade and last years. Reports on activities throughout May which is Labour History Month, are posted daily.

Over 1000 visitors have voted on the web poll asking if May Day should be recognized as a national holiday. The overwhelming majority (88%) have said yes.

The theme of this year’s page is the 80th Anniversary of the 1919 General Strikes. Workers around the world and in particular in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary conducted general strikes for the eight-hour day and union recognition, in 1919. Edmonton was under the control of a workers’ strike committee from May through July of that year. Information on these and other general strikes are linked on the page.

Once again Edmonton, and in particular the labour movement in this city, has shown it is the cutting edge of innovative use of new technology.

Visit our web page for a unique view of the labour movement on the web.