The curtain does not rise in the Zócalo
For the seventh consecutive year, the central square of Mexico City will not be the scene of the massive event for International Labor Day. The Labor Congress thus breaks with a tradition that seemed unbreakable until 2019.
The reason? They say it is for unity and security. In a statement, the organization argued that the “adequate logistical and organizational conditions” do not exist for a concentration of that magnitude.
“This decision responds to the need to privilege the unity of the labor movement, as well as guarantee the safety of the workers,” they explained.
Reyes Soberanis Moreno, president of the organization, explained that it was a decision made together with several unions. They prioritized “the relevance of the current context.” It sounds like a carefully rehearsed script to avoid a complicated scenario.
But the show must go on elsewhere
Although they cancel the main event, they swear that their commitment to labor rights remains intact. May Day will continue to be a key date, but each organization will have to commemorate it on its own, “maintaining the spirit of unity.”
It is a radical change in the script. From the large unitary demonstration in the heart of the country, to dispersed and probably more controlled events.
And pay attention to what’s coming: in the coming days they will announce a joint agenda. Among the star demands are reducing the work week to 40 hours and reviewing taxes on workers’ benefits.
The pandemic in 2020 was the first argument to suspend the event. Then came “different considerations.” Today, it seems that logistics and security are the protagonists of this new work. The Mexican labor movement rehearses a different staging, far from the cameras of the Zócalo.
