Read the original published statement here
On this International Workers’ Day, the International Women’s Alliance unites all our members, allies, and friends under the banner: Counter Rising Fascism with Working Women’s Unity! Build the united front of women workers and migrants with all exploited and oppressed people of the world! International Workers’ Day represents the unity of workers in waging fights for improved working conditions and also commemorates the strength and force for change that workers have when united in common struggle.
This year’s May Day is underscored by increasingly alarming crises in economics, politics, and climate. With the world in a period of severe economic crisis, working people are crippled by low wages, high taxes, and limited social services. The dire living conditions in much of the global south have led billions of people to migrate from their homes, only to be met with fascist attacks, scapegoating; lack of social services; and state neglect from host and home governments.
Workers all over the world are plagued with declining wages as inflation increases; precarious employment as industries are deregulated; mass layoffs as businesses seek to increase profits; and rising cost of living as social services are slashed. Corrupt governments use the stolen wages of the working class to line their pockets and are subservient to foreign interests.
In an attempt to curb the economic crisis the leading global economies have turned to political solutions, dragging the majority of the world into war to try to bully governments into giving up raw materials – especially critical minerals and oil. In it fervor to maintain dominance globally, the US has furthered the global economic crisis by waging attacks against Venezuela and Iran – driving up oil prices and further increasing costs for fuel, food staples, and other necessities. As workers anger continues to rise at the unjustness of the current economic system, governments have turned to fascist policies to repress and oppress workers – especially migrants and women who have experienced the brunt of attacks in the past year.
Political crises, war, and economic instability fall most heavily on the most marginalized members of the working class. Despite the growing global crises, workers all over the world have come together to oppose US led war, to decry anti-people policies, and to fight for fundamental change which restores dignity to workers and ensures there is food on the table. Around the world workers’ demands are clear: stop fascist attacks against working class migrants and women; end predatory government taxation programs which increase the cost of living; ensure that the governments provide meaningful social services for the majority of working people; and end corrupt government schemes which steal money from the people in order to fund billionaire lifestyles.
May 1 reminds us that when working women and migrants join arm in arm with all workers, the working class becomes an unstoppable force for change that shakes the unjust and exploitative foundations of capitalism and demands something new to be built from the rubble. Workers’ struggles being waged today by transportation drivers; garment workers; service workers, agricultural producers; migrant workers; and those in the informal sector serve as a beacon of hope for all people currently struggling for a better world.
On this International Workers’ Day IWA uplifts the indisputable role of the working class in changing and shaping the world. Working women and migrants must come together to build a united front that demands meaningful change for the working people of the world! Together – all workers of all nations must unite and assert our demands for change, and we must do so with the belief that the working class can lead the world toward a better, more just future for exploited and oppressed people!
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