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Press Release – May Day 2012 in Denver

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY DAY 2012 IN DENVER
Contact:
Charlie May
David Hughes
http://denvergeneralstrike.org

Working people the world over will assert their power this International Workers’ Day, May 1, and Denver will be represented, according to the Denver General Strike Coordinating Committee.

The Committee, an offshoot of the Denver-Boulder Industrial Workers of the World union, is, along with Occupy Denver, coordinating a variety of activities to protest the subordination of workers and celebrate the holiday.

Leading up to May Day, the Committee has joined with post office workers, teachers and transportation workers in mass actions against cuts in funding, programs, services and jobs.

In metro neighborhoods, both the General Strike Committee and Occupy Denver are encouraging residents to meet in their common spaces or parks to create support and self-determining assemblies, as has been done especially in Spain and Greece in response to corporate and government austerity moves.

According to Denver General Strike Committee member Charlie May, the committee is raising funds to provide yard signs, brochures and window signs for the effort. “Our goal is to provide a platform for workers to stand up for their rights as the producers of value in society,” May said. “That may or may not take the form of withholding services—a form of general strike—at this time, but we are preparing for all expressions of working class power.”

An issue with broader connections is support for the window-and-door manufacturing workers in Chicago. In 2008 these workers made national headlines when they took over their plant, then owned by the Republic Windows and Doors Company, rather than allow its closure. When the subsequent owners, Serious Energy, announced plans to close the plant again earlier this year, the workers again seized the plant and won a 90-day period to find a new owner or buy and run the plant themselves. That period ends May 24 and local solidarity organizers are watching the outcome with interest, especially in case solidarity activities are required at Serious Energy’s two plants outside of Boulder.

Both the Denver General Strike Committee and Occupy Denver have also been contacting local businesses who may be closing Tuesday, May 1, in commemoration of International Workers’ Day. One such business is the Mercury Cafe, a long-time restaurant and performance venue northeast of downtown Denver. P&L Printing, an IWW job shop, and the affiliated P&L Press Infoshop, also will be closed for May Day.

Those who are engaged in May 1 activities are urged by the Denver General Strike Committee to contact them to help develop a network of ongoing mutual support.