Global Unions, the voice of the global labour movement, today issued the following statement to mark May 1st 2010: 

On today of all days trade unionists around the world demand fresh steps to reform the global economy in favour of social 
justice, investment in jobs and fairness in society. This is no time for business as usual. 

Neo-liberal economists and reckless financial dealings have created a crisis that has put millions of people out of work and 
forced many more into precarious employment to survive. Social safety nets are being torn apart. Public spending that provides 
for cohesive communities is being savagely cut. 

With all of this in mind, Global Unions call on policymakers and democrats everywhere to support a new paradigm of recovery 
and social justice that will: 

• Reassert in government at all levels the primacy of public interest over private gain and ensure that the protection of 
  citizens’ rights is made a cornerstone of social and economic development; 
• Defend the rights of workers and trade unions;
• Mobilise for the creation of sustainable, secure and good quality jobs for all workers, that allow workers and their families to live 
  in dignity; 
• Ensure that social justice is a central mission of government and take concrete measures to reduce income disparities and 
  increase equality, in particular gender equality; 
• Eliminate market abuse through short-term speculation and manipulation of financial markets by imposing binding and 
  effective regulation; 
• Promote sustainable development with job-centered policies, effective social protections and reversal of global warming and 
  environmental degradation; 
• Renew commitment to public service values in society and enhance the contribution of quality public services to fairer and 
  more efficient societies and to finance these services through progressive systems of taxation that provide sufficient resources 
  while improving social equity; 
• Commit to education for all and provide resources needed to achieve the enrichment of society that comes from high quality 
  education and training; 
• Improve the quality of people’s lives by providing universal access to health care and other vital social welfare services, as 
  well as such fundamental issues as clean water and adequate nutrition, and breathing new life into efforts to achieve the UN 
  Millennium Development Goals. 
  
  May Day 2010 is a moment to change course, to meet the aspirations of workers and communities for a new beginning, to put to 
  flight self-serving politics and corporate greed, and, above all, to build anew solidarity in society in support of people-centered 
  values that will enrich the lives of all.