(The following article is from the May 1-15,  2010 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)

People's Voice Editorial

The after-shocks of the great meltdown still reverberate eighteen months later, as workers across the planet rally on May Day 2010. The events of September 2008 proved again that the Marxist understanding remains valid: capitalism inevitably generates crises which shake the system to its foundations. The question arises: how can this latest crisis be resolved?

     The ruling class answer is simple. From their perspective, the crisis has already been overcome, by the return to previous levels of corporate profits and economic activity. How did this miracle happen? Equally simple: by the massive looting of public funds, i.e. the taxes paid by working people. Even better for the bosses, the crisis supplied the excuse for a savage attack on wages, pensions, social programs, collective bargaining rights, and every gain won by workers in recent decades. In essence, the initial outcome of the crisis has been to enormously widen the gap between boss and worker, between rich and poor, on a global scale.

     But for the working class, May Day 2010 is an occasion to fight for a different strategy. The assault has sparked a world-wide upsurge in resistance, in the workplaces and in the streets. The most inspiring fightback has been in Greece, where the communist-led All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) has initiated general strikes and huge protests against the drive to impose the entire cost of the crisis on the working class.

     But militant labour action is growing in Canada as well. The Common Front of Quebec public sector workers continues preparations for a possible mass walkout. Labour-led fightback coalitions are stirring into action in British Columbia and now Ontario.

     This May Day, People's Voice and the Communist Party send greetings to all workers in action, including our sisters and brothers in the Common Front, those on the picket lines against Vale Inco, and those battling the Campbell Liberals in British Columbia. And we take this occasion to urge the labour movement to take the next step, by calling a summit of labour and its allies, to help build a powerful, united campaign to fight for genuine "People's Recovery" policies.