May Day celebrates workers 100 years on from General Strike

ATUC's May Day march made a colourful sight as hundreds of trade unionists and community activists, banners and flags aloft, wended their way down Union Street to celebrate International Workers Day.

Led by the excellent Granite City Pipes and Drums, marchers were watched and applauded by passers-by as they made their way to a rally at Union Terrace, where they were met by the Guarana Drummers' uplifting beats.

There speakers highlighted the challenges workers face in this day and age and called for collective action and solidarity with workers across the UK and around the world. 

Our main speaker was outgoing socialist MSP, Mercedes Villalba who reflected on the theme of the May Day celebrations - the General Strike 100 years ago and the lessons to be learned from it. 

Mercedes said, "In one of my final acts in the Scottish Parliament, I laid a motion marking the centenary of the General Strike, because too often our parliament does not represent our class and our history of struggle. 

Mercedes Villalba

"Close to two million workers up and down the UK came out in solidarity with the miners' union - transport workers, printers, dockers, labourers and many more all demanding, "not a penny off the pay, not a minute on the day!"

"In 2026, with rising prices and the rise of 'always on' and 'hustle' working culture, that demand is just as relevant now as it was then."

She led the crowd in the chant, "Not a penny off the pay, not a minute on the day!

The rally was lived streamed and you can see all the speakers and hear their messages at the link below.

 

More photos below