Oberhausen.
May Day rally on Ebertplatz: On Labor Day in Oberhausen, the events of May 2, 1933 and many other trade union issues are discussed.
May 1, 2023 looks back to May 2, 1933: On Monday at the Oberhausen May Day rally on Ebertplatz, Oberhausen DGB boss Michael Schneider recalled the smashing of the free German trade unions exactly 90 years ago on May 2, 1933.
At that time – one day after Labor Day – Nazis from the SA and SS stormed the houses and offices of the German trade unions and the General German Trade Union Confederation (ADGB) all over the country. May 1, 2023 carries the message and admonition of May 2, 1933, said Michael Schneider in front of several hundred participants at the Ebertplatz. Such an event must never be repeated. It is also important to stand up for imprisoned trade unionists, for example in Belarus and Iran, and to repeatedly demand their release.
In his speech, Michael Schneider then turned his attention to the war in Ukraine. “We call on the Russian government to finally end the fighting,” he said to the applause of the trade unionists. “The guns must finally be silent!” In addition, the territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored.
At the same time, Schneider outlined important future prospects for the world of work from a trade union perspective. In the future, the workplace must be viewed more as a “place of democracy”. Secure and well-paid work and participation in shaping the working world protect against anti-democratic attitudes. And: “In times of crisis like these, we need strong collective bargaining agreements,” added the Oberhausen DGB boss, who described the widespread poverty of families with children in the city and region as a scandal.
Rally on May 1st: Numerous stands on Ebertplatz
Numerous information and food stands were again set up on Ebertplatz, so that the audience could relax and gather in the May sunshine. Before the rally, the traditional parade from the Altmarkt to the theater district started. With waving union flags, the participants passed the station forecourt to Ebertplatz.
The other speakers also included Lord Mayor Daniel Schranz (CDU), who conveyed the greetings from the city of Oberhausen to the trade unions and employees. “Unbroken solidarity” – the motto of May 1, 2023 also stands for the good and humane local cooperation that is cultivated in Oberhausen.
At the same time, Daniel Schranz recalled the dire situation of the population in the Ukrainian twin town of Zaporizhia, which was threatened by Russian attacks on a daily basis. On his desk in City Hall is now a piece of a Russian rocket that hit Zaporizhia. Schranz: “A symbol that the people in our twin town will not give up.”
In his speech, Lennart Garnhartner, chairman of the DGB-Jugend, referred in particular to the financially precarious situation of many young people in the Federal Republic. With a view to student employees at the universities, he calls for reliable collective agreements. The young trade unionist urged the employers to finally provide enough training places; This is the only way to effectively combat the much-lamented shortage of skilled workers.
IG construction trade unionist Carsten Burckhardt: “Mr. Putin, end this war!”
Finally, the main speaker Carsten Burckhardt, Federal Executive of IG Bau (Building-Agriculture-Environment), looked at a wealth of topics. “Mr. Putin, end this war!” he exclaimed. Russia must end the illegal war of aggression against Ukraine immediately. It is a war by “Tsar Putin” to subjugate the country.
With a view to domestic politics, the trade unionist had a striking demand ready: the state should take a stake of 25 percent plus one share in large housing companies such as Vonovia in order to continue to guarantee the construction of affordable rental apartments: “Let’s turn the privatization screw back in housing construction”. , exclaimed Carsten Burckhardt. This is the only way to create the urgently needed new living space in Germany.
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