Working-class internationalism, anti-racism and anti-fascism marked the May Day marches in France this year. The main banner in the Paris demonstration of 30,000 read: “International Solidarity and Social Progress.” In Rennes, where 1,000 rallied in Town Hall Square, workers chanted, “French workers, immigrant workers, same bosses, same struggle!”
Among the 120,000 who marched in 280 cities nation-wide, May Day slogans included equal rights for foreign workers and support for the Arab peoples who are rising up for their dignity and freedom.
Hundreds of North African and Middle Eastern immigrants, particularly recently-arrived Tunisians, participated in this years’ May Day. Support for these workers, who were and are victims of racism going back to French colonial times, reflected the anti-racist feelings of the overall marches. This was their answer to the racism of the fascist National Front .
A group of 200 young Tunisians followed the lead banner in the march here, chanting “Defend the Tunisian Revolution.” Syrians, Libyans and Moroccans chanted other slogans attacking authoritarian and dictatorial regimes. “Bashar Beat it!” proclaimed a banner attacking Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. In previous years, undocumented workers from sub-Saharan Africa had also joined the May Day celebration.
This working-class internationalism and sharp anti-racist, anti-fascist sentiment contrasted sharply with the simultaneous demonstration staged by the fascist National Front (NF). Three thousand people turned out for their march here. Fascist youth formed the largest contingent. They used foul terms to condem undocumented workers.
FN leader Jean-Marie Le Pen attacked all political parties — right and “left” — for “betraying the workers” in an obvious attempt to benefit from popular disgust with the electoral circus. Questioned about the way the FN is courting the working class, Alain Reiller, a teacher who joined the May Day march in Bordeaux, replied, “I trust in the workers’ capacity to understand that we will advance together and not with a policy of protectionism and discrimination.”
A 32-year-old fork-lift driver who joined the march in Marseilles denounced the press for building up the National Front: “Enough of stigmatizing the workers! I spit on the FN and Sarkozy” [President of France].
In addition to the 30,000 marchers in Paris, there were 20,000 in Bordeaux, 15,000 in Marseilles, over 6,000 in Toulous and 5,000 in Nantes.
This year’s May Day turnout was smaller than last years’ when 350,000 marched during the fight against decimating retirement and in 2009 when workers were reacting to the beginning of the depression. The defeat over the retirement issue discouraged many workers.
Meanwhile, the union leaders have been jockeying for position, precluding unified demonstrations. Although five confederations managed to issue a May Day call, this disunity discouraged other workers.The reformist leaders hoped to use May Day to pressure the government for an increase in the minimum wage above the inflation rate, which is running at 2%. They are continuing negotiations with the government over the future of the retirement system. While these demands may aim to defend the poorest and oldest workers, they also reflect a sad lack of revolutionary vision.