GROWING ANGER at the financial crisis prompted a huge turnout at May Day marches around the world yesterday, some of which were marred by violence. From Bordeaux to Tokyo, workers took to the streets to vent their anger at government handling of the global recession and the treatment so far of those responsible.
Berlin was braced for its annual Labour Day riot ritual yesterday evening after 30 police were injured and 90 arrested in violent street battles on Wednesday night.
Over 5,000 riot police were on standby with tear gas and water cannon yesterday, ready for night-time violence that has become as traditional as the daytime workers' march.
"The crisis is a result of greed and irresponsible actions. We need a new direction," said German foreign minister Frank Walter Steinmeier of the Social Democrats (SPD). He hopes to unseat chancellor Angela Merkel in an autumn general election set to be dominated by postwar Germany's worst recession.
"This May 1st is such a special May Day because it's a day of disappointment and outrage," he said.
German union federation leader Michael Sommer challenged Mr Steinmeier to back up his words with deeds and create a new rescue fund to aid small businesses, financed by a new wealth tax. "Whoever can make billions available for the toxic waste of the banks can make a similar amount available for the future of our country," he said, calling this year's May Day worker's holiday a "day of protest" against those who had written off labour leaders as "dinosaurs who hadn't seen the sign of the times".
In a rare show of unity, eight French labour unions held joint events around the country yesterday. Worker anger in France at a three-year jobless high has boiled over into "bossnappings", where employees hold executives hostage.
Union leader Francois Chereque told French radio that there was "strong unity" in the labour movement. "Labour is changing," he said. "For the first time, perhaps in decades, we are, at the core, in agreement."
Turkish riot police used water cannon and tear gas in central Istanbul against several hundred demonstrators chanting "long live the revolution". At least eight were injured in the clash, including two police officers.
There were similar scenes in Athens after groups of young men vandalised shop facades and set cars alight. There was a minor riot at Athens Polytechnic while there were almost as many police as demonstrators at official union marches.
Workers marched in Moscow and Tokyo in protests against bank bail-outs, calling for greater welfare assistance for the growing legions of the unemployed. About 2,000 protesters in Moscow gathered at a statue of Karl Marx, waving Soviet flags and calling for a return to communism.