Workers arise!
Workers do not have country! They are a world class with the same interest against capitalism. 1st May is the day when international working class appears as a class. It is not one of the days of “nations”, “tribes” or “religions”. It is a day against all of them. On 1st May, the working class raises its class and international banner, discloses the pseudo characters in the society and illuminates its socialist character and human liberation aims to the world. 1st of May is the day of the true owners of the world, a day for humanity which can not exist without its labour. It is the day the Spartacuses of this movement, workers’ communist and socialist leaders declare that there is no other way than workers’ revolution, the revolution of the wage labourers, to destroy the system of wage slavery.
The ideal of liberation of slaves has always existed. The question still remains: how to abolish wage slavery? There is no doubt that by maintaining the present capitalist system it is not possible to fundamentally change the lives of milliards of people. On 1st May, the real question for every communist and socialist worker is how to fundamentally change the system as well as make everyday improvements. Only the international unity and organisation of the working class can transform the ideal of liberation into “A spectre is haunting Europe”, and disclose the lies and propaganda of the bourgeoisie against workers. Workers as individuals have no power. The strength of workers is in their class organisation and unity. On 1st of May, it is vital to emphasise the internationalism of the working class against capitalism. However it is not enough. The world needs to be changed and put the right way up. This is the declaration of the day. The necessary practical steps to unify workers against capitalism and the anti human system of capitalism needs to be defined. On this day, we must declare to the capitalists and their governments that workers no longer accept the statuesque. Workers demand humanity to be rescued from the present misery.
Today’s capitalism, all over the world, by imposing harsh working and living conditions, has created major obstacles in the way of workers’ unity and movement. We are not just talking about the fear of unemployment for workers and their families. Economic obstacles such as economic and social insecurity, lack of education and health provisions, the increasing trends in contract work, and extension of working hours are all obstacles. The consequences of capitalist system for the working class which are also serious obstacles for workers’ movement against capitalism are “work flexibility”, unemployment, more intense exploitation of workers in the world competitive market, and declaring that the society has no duty towards working class’s subsistence. What was once named “Japanese model of management” in opposition to “Fordism model of management” has now turned into more “progressive” model of modern capitalist management. It has brought even more horrendous form of slavery in every corner of the world. Capitalism of 21st century is the same as that of the 18th century. This unleashed slavery which exists everywhere from France, Germany, Russia to USA, Turkey, Korea, China, Egypt and Iran can only be confronted in one way. The good old “apparent” answer is that workers have no choice but to unite and revolt against capitalism.
The movement of wage labourers against capitalism will not materialize by worshiping human values. This movement must be organised and come forth. More than ever before is the direct mass movement of workers and the tradition of workers’ councils a vital necessity. Wherever the working class has relied on its own progressive class traditions it has managed to build an obstacle against capital and capitalist governments. Workers, be it in France, Turkey, Iran or Korea only feel powerful when they revert to their social and radical traditions. The working class can not change the system fundamentally without a radical struggle and its own political worker communist party. To confront capitalism internationally, a united workers’ front to provide a social alternative against the bourgeoisie is needed.
In Iran, last year was the year of workers’ struggle, suppression of workers’ leaders, and international solidarity with working class in Iran.
One thing was clearly shown last year in Iran. Different trends within the working class struggle showed their true capacity. Those who urged people to support the “native bourgeoisie” or “domestic products” acting as the fifth wheel of capitalism showed that they are unable to unite workers. It is a reactionary trend. Last year also showed that workers’ independent organisations are not in contradiction with or anti socialist and communist parties. We all saw that at the height of privatization, withholding workers’ wages and under sever suppressive conditions; the only thing that united workers was their own direct action in the form of workers’ general assemblies.
1st May is the day to raise the banner of socialist workers against poverty, destitution and the totality of capital. Workers in Iran demand abolition of wage labour, descent wages for a secure and humane living, unemployment benefit, the right to organisation and strike, and a radical and immediate change in people’s living conditions. This year we must support and defend our Afghan class allies who were massacred by Islamic regime of Iran, the freedom loving students, the struggle for women’s and men’s equality, immediate freedom of jailed workers, students and all political prisoners.
Worker-communist Unity Party congratulates May Day, International workers’ day, to the working class, socialists, communists and all freedom loving people!
