May Day rally in Wigan town centre

Wigan Trades Council is putting on the May Day rally, with participants gathering in Believe Square outside the Wigan Life Centre at around 11.45am.

The event then starts at noon.

Those attending are also being asked to wear face coverings.

Trade unionists will make speeches and Wigan Samba Band will perform at the start and end of the rally.

Wigan Trades Council says the past year of the Covid pandemic has shown the importance of blue-collar jobs and labour but workers still face many problems.

A spokesperson said: “Over the years May Day has traditionally been used by working class movements across the world to celebrate the cause of labour, to honour the struggles that took place to secure wages, pensions, decent conditions at work, voting rights, the NHS and many more things we now take for granted.

“It has been ordinary workers that have kept the country running during this past year.

“In response we have had the intolerable level of profiteering from workers’ insecurity and the assault on wages and conditions through the despicable practice of firing and rehiring.

“This May Day is an opportunity to celebrate what we achieved in the past and what we need to do to maintain those achievements.”

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