We had 10 rank-n-file UE150 members that were either workers in the City of Durham or state workers at Murdoch Center in Butner, as well as 12 BWFJ’s Youth “HIP HOP FOR JUSTICE “that marched today with nearly 300 people in Durham, NC for May Day, International Workers Day!
We held signs and helped to lead the struggle to defend an end to cuts in public service jobs, schools and public services. Max Davis, BWFJ/ sanitation worker and president of our Durham City workers chapter of UE local 150 spoke in front of City hall about the struggles of city workers demanding participatory budget process, no to privatization, $1000 wage increase, meet-n-confer and more.
Additionally, we reached out to the American Postal Workers Union local 24 and National Association of Letter Carriers local 382, who did show up and spoke at the post office about their major struggles to also defend these vital public services. As y’all know, the post office is facing up to 120,000 lay-offs and closure of several thousand post offices!
We were also joined by Farm Labor Organizing Committee (AFL-CIO) who is in a major struggle to organize tobacco workers employed by contractors of Reynolds America tobacco. There will be a major march at their shareholders meeting in Winston Salem tomorrow, May 3! State AFL-CIO leader Mary Be McMillan also spoke at the rally.
Over all it was a very spirited rally. After marching and holding rallies at the post office and city hall, we went and rallied at the local jail to challenge racist repression, the murder of many Black youth such as Trayvon Martin, mass incarceration and to end deportations. We were joined by several powerful Latino community groups, many of which were undocumented, yet we were able to take the roads most of the march because of our great numbers!
We look forward to hearing how May Day marches looked in other cities with our members around the country too!
Workers Rights are Human Rights! Organize the South!
Support the Struggles of the NC Public Sector Workers Union, UE local 150