01/05/2023
The Trade Union movement, as part of the progressive left, has a strong history of supporting LGBTQIA+ workers, and in return, a huge number of gay, trans and non-binary activists have been involved in the unions and the left. On May 1st, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which represents the union movement in the UK, said "this year, May Day has a special resonance. The cost-of-living crisis shows few signs of easing. Food prices are now rising at almost 20 per cent, hitting the poorest hardest. And across the economy, in both private and public sectors, hundreds of thousands of workers are striking for fair pay." The left wing daily paper Morning Star added "May Day is International Workers’ Day. The struggles of Britain’s workers have their parallels across the developed world. Governments forcing down living standards to shore up corporate profits are also pitting worker against worker in a drive towards war, to prop up an increasingly dysfunctional world order policed by the United States." Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell tweeted live from the May Day Protests in London, where he said "The Government says there is no way to raise the wages of nurses & junior doctors in line with inflation. NOT TRUE! The UK’s 171 billionaires have £600+ billion & can afford to pay a 10% Wealth Tax. Their wealth is increasing by 10% a year, so they would not lose anything! As SpiderMan would say: With great wealth comes great responsibility!" Meanwhile, trans activists noted how the demonisation of transgender people by right wing feminists and neo-Nazis, aided by the British Tory Press, was paralleled by their vicious attacks on environmentalists, animal rights campaigners, vegans, and trade union groups.
