May Day rallies seek fair wage, workers’ rights, end to capitalism
It poured buckets on the annual May Day protests in Montreal, but it did not deter protesters like Caroline Proulx-Trottier from participating in a public rally in Côte-des-Neiges in support of international worker’s day.
Proulx, a primary school teacher, said the 46th annual march remains a cry for social justice.
“It’s more and more m’aider, if I can use that joke” said Trottier, who laughed at her double entendre.
She was one of hundreds who gathered for the May 1 Coalition rally at Jean-Brillant Park to raise concerns about the rights of workers, fair wages, and the seemingly eternal struggle for socio-economic justice in a modern capitalist society.
The Côte-des-Neiges rally included speeches from labour leaders and community groups, including Richard Perron, president of the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ), who said Quebec workers deserve a raise.
Although the minimum wage in Quebec was raised Monday by 50 cents, from $10.75 to $11.25 an hour, Perron said that’s not enough to make ends meet.
“We want $15. That’s a base for people working full time and not having to go to food banks for help,” Perron said. “A 50-cent raise won’t get them out of poverty.”
While the Coalition rally was peaceful, police were out in force as other protest groups like CLAC held a noisy anti-capitalist demonstration through downtown streets.
Police said there was vandalism in the form of broken store windows, graffiti and damaged vehicles. One protester was arrested for assaulting a police officer.
Police spokesperson Manuel Couture said protesters hurled rocks and other projectiles at police.
The CLAC website spelled out the group’s ire as Montreal celebrates its 375 anniversary in 2017.
“The governments of Montreal and Canada will celebrate, spending millions of dollars in opulence for what they call their ‘nation’ and their ‘city.’ Their priorities are clear when we consider all the austerity budgets shoved down our throats for the last 20 years. Austerity for us, and festivities for them!”