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Photographed during the May Day Marches, Malaga 2018.
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This is two sides of an original Railways worker's union banner. (Somehow the signwriter left off an 'e' in 'employees'.)
Workers began to form unions in Australia from the 1830s. But it would still be some time before their campaigns for better pay and conditions would be realised. It wasn't until 1853 when Transportation of convicts from Britain ended, that this form of penal servitude came to a close.
Then in 1856 workers had a victory in the enshrinement of an eight hours working day. In 1907 a truly momentous court decision gave workers the right to a "living wage". This was in fact a significant decision worldwide and effectively turned Australia into a workers' paradise (relatively speaking).
"In 1907, the Harvester Decision set a ‘living’ or ‘family’ wage. It was supposed to allow an unskilled labourer to support a wife and three children, to feed, house, and clothe them. This became the basis of the national minimum wage system in Australia." www.fwc.gov.au/about-us/history/waltzing-matilda-and-suns...
From this time on Australia has always had a minimum award wage and arbitration to enable this wage to be indexed against the rising cost of living.
On this International Workers Day, let us remember the millions of workers all over the world, especially in the world's poorest countries, who do the hardest, dirtiest and most dangerous work for the lowest pay. They contribute so much to our daily lives, yet they ask for so little in return, just enough so they can feed their families. Too often, they are invisible; we don't see their blood, sweat and tears. They have to work long hours. They have no rights, no health care, no sick leave, no minimum wage, no pension. If they get hurt, they lose their jobs. They have no choice, they have to work to survive and feed their families. On this May Day, let us remember their sacrifices and support their struggles for a better life.
This workers' banner includes as a central theme the 8 hours day. On April 21 in 1856 stonemasons walked off the job in Melbourne where they were building the new university. They demanded better working conditions in the form of a reduced maximum number of daily working hours. At the time people could work up to 14 hours in the day.
www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/eight-hour-day
This was an idea first proposed by the British social radical Robert Owen in 1817. It was a nice way of dividing the day into 8 hours of work, 8 hours of recreation and 8 hours of rest.
Photographed during the May Day Marches, Malaga 2018.
Do not use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission..
Keep your hands off!!
© All rights reserved.
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Chico Mendes (1944–1988) was a Brazilian activist, leader of the rubber tappers in the Amazon, and an international symbol of the fight for workers’ rights and environmental protection. Born in the state of Acre, Brazil, Mendes grew up in a family of rubber tappers and experienced firsthand the harsh working conditions and exploitation of forest workers.
As a union leader, Mendes organized rubber tappers to demand fair wages, better working conditions, and protection of their land from logging companies and wealthy landowners. He also fought to preserve the Amazon rainforest, understanding that environmental protection was directly linked to the survival and rights of local workers.
Mendes’ activism and international visibility made him a target of local economic powers. On December 22, 1988, Chico Mendes was shot dead in front of his home by hired gunmen, acting on behalf of landowners opposed to his union and environmental initiatives. His death shocked Brazil and the world, turning him into a symbol of courage, social justice, and peaceful resistance.
Today, Chico Mendes remains an example of total commitment to workers’ rights and environmental defense, reminding us that the sacrifice of those who oppose injustice can inspire future generations to continue the fight for a fairer and more just world.
This portrait is part of the REMEMBER series — a tribute to men and women who gave their lives for justice, human rights, and dignity. Each figure in this series stood up against oppression, violence, and exploitation, even when silence would have been safer.
By publishing this series, I want to awaken consciences and show that the struggles they faced — for freedom, equality, workers’ rights, and truth — continue today in many parts of the world.
These people must be remembered not to mourn, but to inspire action and courage. Their sacrifices remind us that one voice, one act of resistance, can make a difference, and that the fight for justice is ongoing.
Joseph Albert "Jock" Yablonski was born on March 9, 1910, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a family of Polish immigrants. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood, he began working in the coal mines at a young age and experienced firsthand the harsh conditions, poverty, and dangers faced by miners. These early experiences shaped his lifelong commitment to justice and workers' rights.
Jablonski became an active member of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and quickly earned a reputation as a fearless and honest leader who advocated for fair wages, safer working conditions, and dignity for laborers. He married Margaret Jablonski, a supportive partner who shared his values, and together they had three children: Christine, Barbara, and Charlotte. The family lived modestly, but with integrity and a strong commitment to justice and human dignity.
During the 1960s, Jablonski began to challenge the corruption within the UMWA, led at the time by President W.A. "Tony" Boyle. Boyle ruled the union through intimidation, bribery, and violence, silencing anyone who opposed him. In 1969, Jablonski decided to run for president of the union, promising transparency, democracy, and respect for workers. His courageous campaign threatened Boyle’s corrupt control.
On the night of December 31, 1969, Jablonski, his wife Margaret, and their 25-year-old daughter Charlotte were brutally murdered in their home in Clarksville, Pennsylvania. Three gunmen, hired by Boyle’s associates, shot the family while they slept, eliminating anyone who could challenge the corrupt union leadership.
The murders shocked the nation and exposed the deep corruption in the labor movement. The investigation led to the arrest and conviction of the gunmen and eventually to the life sentence of Tony Boyle. Joseph Jablonski’s death, along with the loss of his family, became a powerful symbol of the sacrifices made by those who stand up against corruption and injustice. His legacy continues to inspire the fight for workers’ rights, honesty, and justice in labor organizations today.
This portrait is part of the REMEMBER series — a tribute to men and women who gave their lives for justice, human rights, and dignity. Each figure in this series stood up against oppression, violence, and exploitation, even when silence would have been safer.
By publishing this series, I want to awaken consciences and show that the struggles they faced — for freedom, equality, workers’ rights, and truth — continue today in many parts of the world.
These people must be remembered not to mourn, but to inspire action and courage. Their sacrifices remind us that one voice, one act of resistance, can make a difference, and that the fight for justice is ongoing.
A tree leaf goes flying by the explosion of a firecracker launched during the protest mobilization of the workers' assembly of Duro Felguera. Hundreds of families go through a difficult situation and live pending decision-making by the board of directors of the company that is evaluating to carry out a collective dismissals
Kolkata, a city roiled by workers’ rights movements over time announces yet another conference even as a rickshaw-puller, oblivious to much else except his own need to get through the day with enough money to make his effort worthwhile, passes it by.
Travel Blog: windyskies.blogspot.com
On May 1st, Helsinki’s streets were awash with red as the city’s communist organizations marched in solidarity, echoing a century-long tradition of advocating for workers’ rights and social justice.
A richly patterned red-and-black flag waves over the crowd at the 2025 May Day demonstration in Helsinki, Finland. The banner — likely carried by anarchist and antifascist protesters — blends symbolic rebellion with textile beauty. In the background, the well-known Kahvisiskot market stall adds a distinctly Finnish backdrop to this radical visual.
Helsingin vappumarssilla 2025 nähtiin puna-mustia tekstiililippuja, joiden koristeelliset kuviot toivat visuaalista painoa anarkistien ja antifasistien sanomalle. Lipun takana näkyvä Kahvisiskot-teltta ankkuroi kohtauksen kotimaisiin perinteisiin.
The Australian Workers Heritage Centre is one of Outback Queensland’s premier tourist destinations and National Monument to our working men and women. Our mission is to honour all workers - past, present and future and help preserve a vitally important part of Australian heritage and culture - Our Working Life.
Located in Barcaldine in Outback Queensland, the Centre is a welcome oasis for visitors. Spread across over two hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding a tranquil billabong, the Australian Workers Heritage Centre presents a rich tapestry of exhibits capturing the spirit our nation's workers.
Including the Story of the Great Shearer’s Strike 1891, 'Working Women' Project, a 'One Teacher School', 'Working for Health' exhibition, 'Kunwarara' Railway Station and the original Australian Workers Union Hall.
Our landscaped grounds complement the visitor experience where you can enjoy a picnic or barbeque, while the kids explore our modern playground facilities.
Our centre is also home of the Young Un - Tree of Knowledge, a vibrant and beautiful Australian Ghost Gum and the only living descendant of the original Tree of Knowledge.
Stay for a few days in Barcaldine, home of the Tree of Knowledge Memorial and enjoy the friendly company of the locals who will tell the stories of their town’s very important place in Australia’s history.
Source: Australian Workers Heritage Centre (www.australianworkersheritagecentre.com.au)
Nur, a fisherman from childhood.He works almost everyday and night throughout the year in Bay of Bengal.But still fighting with poverty.He lost his all 3 child aged between 3-4 months.Rural doctors failed to diagnose the cause.He believes children are God's gift, nobody can change fate.
Please don't use or alter this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission.
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© minhaz nizami || dr.minz@yahoo.com
"International Worker's Day (May Day)"
New York,New York
May 1, 2016
(Shot With Olympus XA using Kodak 400TX film. 2.2/800)
Sparks will fly
Its time to clear up a mess left by a road traffic accident, time for some angle grinding & brute force, sparks will fly.
This is Clerys department store on O'Connell Street in Dublin. Last December, the new owners, Natrium Ltd., had the effrontery to put a 'Christmas display' in the windows of the empty shop, even though 460 employees had been summarily dismissed and put out on the street the previous June.
The former employees are still fighting for their entitlements and for an improvement in workers' rights in general. The management in Natrium Ltd. and Cheyne Capital have refused to meet with them.
A reflection of a nearby statue of Jim Larkin, the great Irish trade union leader, can be seen in the top left of the window.
More information: www.facebook.com/justiceforclerysworkers/?fref=ts
www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/profile-t...
McDonald’s strike solidarity rally opposite the UK Parliament at Old Palace Yard, Westminster. Monday 4th September was the first 1 day strike called, and also the first in McDonald's history. Amongst supporters speaking were Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, MP’s, trade unionists, strikers and others. Jeremy Corbyn could not attend the rally, but sent a message of support. The strikers were from the Cambridge and Crayford McDonalds, and were seeking an end to zero hours contracts, a minimum wage of £10 per hour and union recognition.
Occupy Toronto's May Day march & rally, City Hall, Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 . Perhaps as many as 2 thousand people participated.....protesting for Workers' Rights globally.....and every other societal dissatisfaction. Post march, a 24 hour occupation was staged at Simcoe Park on Front Street. By-laws were eased to permit the occupation but no tents or structures were allowed. 3 people were temporarily arrested when they attempted to erect a tent. Metro police were out in full force. At times it seemed there were more police officers than protesters.
I'm late posting this ...it took place on Tuesday & overnight into Wednesday.
Thousands of man,women and childen collecting coal from Jadukata River,Shunamganj,Bangladesh.
Please don't use or alter this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission.
© All rights reserved
© minhaz nizami||dr.minz@yahoo.com
"I found it very humiliating and the whole experience quite shocking." Pauline Konopka.
At 6.00pm on Friday 12 June 2015, employees of Clerys department store in Dublin were told that the business was closing. They were given an hour to gather personal belongings and were then escorted to the exit by hired security personnel.
Clerys—dating back 162 years and owned since 2012 by Gordon Brothers Group, an American venture capital company—had been secretly sold in the dead of night. The business was split into retail and property sections prior to the deal going through. The retail section was sold for €1 and duly declared bankrupt, thus denying the employees and others of their rightful dues. The Clerys building was then sold separately.
Gordon Brothers Group walked away with a handsome profit from the property transaction and instantly washed their hands of all responsibility for their former employees. Those employees—some of whom had spent a lifetime in Clerys—lost all of their accumulated redundancy entitlements and were eventually paid minimum statutory redundancy by the Irish government.
The Clerys building was bought by Natrium Ltd. (a consortium consisting of D2 Private, controlled by property developer Deirdre Foley, with John Skelly and Ronan Daly) and Cheyne Capital, London. Both companies have steadfastly refused to meet the former Clerys employees or government representatives.
The former Clerys employees are now campaigning for a change in the law that will protect others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Justice for Clerys Workers: www.facebook.com/justiceforclerysworkers
This portrait was taken as part of the Certificate in Photography and Digital Imaging evening course at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin.
Lens: Pentax SMC 75mm
Film: Kodak Tri-X 400 pushed to 800.
The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) is a federation of state, regional, and industry based branches. It represents approximately 75,000 members across Australia in a diverse range of industries.
The AWU was formed in 1886 as the Amalgamated Shearers Union, and quickly grew to represent shearers across New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The Queensland Shearers Union formed in 1887. By 1894 the Australian Workers' Union was formed and advanced the struggle to cope with the conditions of the 1890s.
Federation in 1901 brought a Commonwealth Industrial Relations system. The AWU was the first union to secure a federal award under the newly formed conciliation and arbitration system the Pastoral Industry Award, with this award, the AWU was able to ensure that workers, not just bosses, had a say in setting pay rates and workplace conditions.
The Australian Workers’ Union is the nation’s oldest general union. It was also the platform from where the Australian Labor Party was born in Barcaldine, Queensland 1892.
The union is a blue-collar union. It represents workers in many industries, just some of them include aviation, civil construction, oil and gas, mining and manufacturing.
Mount Isa Strikes:
From August 1964 - March 1965, the Mount Isa Strikes was an eight-month industrial dispute between miners and management at Mount Isa Mines over a rejected award rate increase, dividing members, organisers and the union’s leaders, and a state of emergency was declared. The dispute ended six months later with most demands met. The complaints of workers were initially over the issue of adequate showers for men at the end of their shift.
A strike at Mount Isa Mines in 1961 was precipitated by legislation that threatened employees' contract bonuses. It ended with an uneasy truce when State Premier Frank Nicklin proclaimed a state of emergency, ordering unions back to work, and MIM back to the negotiating table.
Premier Sir Frank Nicklin declared another state of emergency on 27 January 1965, permitting police to cordon off Mount Isa, enter houses without a warrant, and seize strike materials. This order-in-council was met with widespread disapproval and was withdrawn four days later. The dispute petered out through February and March, as enough miners returned to work to resume production. A large number of workers' demands were eventually met in the MIM Award of June 1965, however according to local Kath Swift "a terrible lot left here and there were quite a few suicides over it as well."
The MIM strikes were predominately lead by New Zealand born Pat Mackie. As he wore a baseball cap of the Boston Red Sox, and spoke with an apparent American accent, he was often portrayed as an "American gangster" and foreign communist. He led the strike, inspiring the miners to keep going despite Nicklin's authoritarian stance on maintaining the strikers. Mackie went to sea as a teenager because he wanted to see America. In his own account of his life, he said he was a stowaway and that he complained to the captain about the unsatisfactory state of his accommodation. For 15 years, as a seaman, he traveled the world.
According to Mackie's autobiography titled 'Many Ships to Mt Isa', Mackie spent time in several Montreal prisons on charges indirectly related to union activities, clashed with Brisbane police for "having the cheek" - in police eyes - to complain about their treatment of an Aboriginal man, and learned a lot about union tactics in North America. During the MIM strikes Nicklin branded him a communist, and attempted to deport Mackie to New Zealand in which the Queensland government advised was not possible. Mackie was expelled by, at the then time, right wing Australian Workers Union who also branded him a communist.
Mackie was attracted to the left-wing Industrial Workers of the World (the Wobblies). He worked with communists and nearly joined a branch of the Communist Party in Canada. Labor historian Dr Greg Mallory said Mackie did not become a communist but vigorously opposed forces that tried to drive communists from the union movement.
Mackie's achievements were later celebrated in 2007 in a Queensland musical, Red Cap, and his legacy to Mount Isa was good working conditions and other community facilities.
Mackie passed away on the 19th of November 2009, aged 95.
Source: AWU (awu.net.au/our-union/about/), the Australian: Experiment in inclusion (July 30, 2007), Sydney Morning Herald: Rank and file hero who led Mt Isa miners' strike (December 5, 2009)
Nurachayatun Siti (at right), a 35 year old Indonesian domestic worker from Surabaya Java, prepares food in her employers kitchen after her early morning grocery shopping, in Sembawang Hills Estates, Singapore. This is Nur's second domestic help job in Singapore. The first when she was 19, was quite a painful and demoralizing situation where her employers had her sleep on the floor for two years, with little food, no time off, and S$20 per month, the rest of her wages were either withheld or taken by the agency that placed her. The end came when her employer accused her of theft. She gladly left. This time she has returned on her own terms earning well above the average $550. On her one day off, Nur is learning how to sew, meets with friends, and attends labor law discussions to better protect herself.
Photo: UN Women/Staton Winter