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6 April, 2009
Trade unions joined with aid agencies and environmentalists on the streets of London last weekend, 28 March, to march under the banner “Put People First”. The 35,000 peaceful protestors called for reform of the world’s economy under a common banner, “Jobs, Justice, Climate.” Decent jobs and public services for all, justice for the world’s poor, including the 200 million people that the United Nations predicts will be thrown into poverty as a result of the economic crisis, and a green economy to slow climate change.
The march was part of the global campaign to challenge the G20 ahead of the summit meetings last week, and was sponsored by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of the UK.
The colourful four-mile march from Embankment to Hyde Park was accompanied by brass bands and chants of “Bail out the people, not the bankers!” Speeches were then heard from trade union leaders, including United Steelworkers of America President Leo Gerard, Australian Council of Trades Unions (ACTU) President Sharon Burrow, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, and comedian Mark Thomas. All called for an overhaul in the mechanisms governing the world economy.
“Even before the crisis, the world suffered poverty and faced the threat of climate change,” said GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny of the UK. “The G20 must fight recession by making the world fairer and greener.” At least 1,500 GMB members took part in the march.
The high turnout has been attributed in part to the use of Twitter, Facebook, and other social media used by organizers in the run-up to the event. During the march, messages that had been posted on Twitter were shouted through a loud speaker.