Monday 30 April 2012

May Day - A day for all. #OccupyMay begins! Public event · By Occupy the London Stock Exchange

May Day - A day for all. #OccupyMay begins!

Tuesday
  • 07:00 until 18:00

Underground and overground London
Occupy London will be out in support of events on the day and is planning some actions of our own:

*** Morning - Occupy the tube! ***

As May Day is a day for all workers, Occupy supporters are planning 'Occupy the tube', a fun and inspiring event starting on Tuesday morning in the centre of the City of London. All will be revealed that morning but look out for white flowers.

On the day, meet from 7am at the Finsbury Square occupation, or 8am at Liverpool Street Station. Wear your best workwear and bring white flowers. Musicians, performers and artists also welcome, as are donations of white flowers, which can be left at the Finsbury Square occupation prior to May Day. 

This event is for everyone, including - and especially - those who have followed Occupy over the last seven months but have never felt able to participate in any direct way. 

Expect other surprises around London too. More details on the new Occupy London website (currently in beta) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/291445027604703/). On the day follow @occupylondon on Twitter and hashtag #occupymay for updates. Important updates about Occupy May events are also available for free via SMS - simply text Follow @occupylsxsos to 86444.

*** 11.30am - Assemble at Paternoster Square for May Day march ***

From 11.30am, supporters of Occupy London will gather at Paternoster Square, just by the London Stock Exchange and St Paul's Cathedral, in preparation for then joining the thousands of people coming together for the main May Day March in London. 

Moving off at around 12.30pm, Occupy London will join the main march as it makes its way to the rally point at Trafalgar Square. More info about the May Day march and rally at http://www.londonmayday.org/ and new facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/366099363425438/.

*** 2.30pm onwards - Against Workfare ***

Post march, Occupy London supporters plan to support the anti-workfare actions against companies participating in the workfare schemes, which have been called by North and South London Solidarity Federations. RE-CONVERGE: 16:00PM @ West One Shopping Centre (by Bond Street tube). MAP OF LOCATIONS: http://g.co/maps/wx93f
More information at https://www.facebook.com/events/406395462721503/.

Strike, march and occupy. See you on May Day.

--On 1 May, people around the world will strike. They will demand their right to decent working conditions, secure employment and pensions. This day is for all people. It isn't just for workers lucky enough to have unions to represent them. It is for parents and carers whose work is often not seen as productive, for people forced into workfare schemes, for students whose only way to employment is unpaid internships, for those who can't get their foot in the door of the workplace because of their nationality, gender, disabilities. It is for all of us and our right to earn a living for a decent life.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits is rising, with unemployment at levels close to their highest for a generation (much as the Government likes to constantly move the goalpost in their favour to massage the figures). Many with a job are forced to comply with unacceptable conditions, due to not having realistic alternatives, and their work is not as valued as some. The income gap between the highest and lowest is growing more quickly in Britain than other economies over the past three decades. Topping the inequalities off, we’ve seen average pay rises for FTSE 100 executives at 43%, with ‘top’ directors at 49%, all of whom can use their status to avoid tax. 

It is time for these inequalities to stop. This May Day, strike with your union if you have one. Call in sick, take a holiday, don't show up. Join actions and marches in your city, bring your community together and talk about the issues in your area, make some noise. Remember, you are not alone and that together we can make a change.