May Day March: Workers to rally against services cuts ‘for their children’s future’

The Aberdeen Trades Union Council event will be held on Saturday.

By Denny Andonova

April 27 2023, 9:10 am

Aberdeen Trade Union Council's May Day march and rally will take place on Saturday. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson.

Workers from all walks of life will take to the streets of Aberdeen this weekend to make a stand against cuts to essential public services.

This year’s May Day march and rally will join the fight to save city libraries and leisure facilities “for children’s future” amid the recent closures.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, the event will take place on Saturday to mark International Workers’ Day.

Marchers will gather on Rubislaw Terrace from 11am and then parade down Union Street, led by the uplifting sound of pipes and the beats of the Guarana Drummers.

The event will finish with a rally at Castlegate at noon.

ATUC president Graeme Farquhar called on trade unions, community groups and families to join them with banners and give a clear message to Aberdeen City Council.

May Day march — Pipers and drummers will lead the march down Union Street. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson.

He said: “Our march and rally this year comes at a time when communities in Aberdeen are fighting against libraries and pools closures, facilities that are critical to the wellbeing of children and our most vulnerable, and essential for a decent society.

“We will hear from representatives of these community groups spearheading the campaigns to protect these services, calling on the council to re-open libraries and save pools.

“We will also hear from the trade unions making their own stands to protect their members pay and conditions as the cost of living rises, plunging more and more working people into poverty.”