Montrealers Gather in Preparation for Labour Day Protest

On Thursday July 27th, La Riposte, a Marxist organization in Quebec, organized and held an informational and social gathering in preparation for their fourth edition of the Labour Day Protest. 

During the event, Montrealers and members of La Riposte Syndicale met at La Fontaine Park and discussed the current wage, inflation and class issues. 

Manuel Viens, one of the members of the organization, emphasized that such a preparation event was important to educate Montrealers on the issue, as well as to give them a chance to get engaged in the preparation process and to share their ideas before the official protest.

Viens explained that the mobilization for the Labour Day Protest was due to the working history of Quebec. He explained that Labour Day had been made a holiday so that May Day, a day to celebrate workers, could remain a work day. Viens clarified that by celebrating Labour Day, citizens would not be inclined to question the class basis behind the work division in society.

Later on, other members of La Riposte Syndicale addressed the crowd. They mentioned that the goal of the event and the upcoming protest was to remind Montrealers of the militant and anti-capitalist traditions of the trade-unionist movement in Montreal, and more broadly, Quebec. For the protest on September 4th, the organization prepared three slogans: "Contre le capitalisme, syndicalisme de combat!",  "Inflation, salaire bas, seule la lutte paiera!" and "Front commun, luttes ouvrieres, tous solidaires!" 

The organization wants the protest to be an opportunity to send a message to the government that citizens stand together and are united.