Attacks on hard-won rights happen almost every day now: the eight-hour working day, paid sick leave. And the government has plenty of plans for cuts to social services, and few ideas for growth and preservation of industrial jobs.

On May 1st, workers took their anger to the streets. Under the slogan “Our jobs first, your profits second”, more than 350,000 people protested across Germany.

In Berlin as well, over 12,000 people made it clear that economic crises must not be fought at the expense of workers. The protest march set off from Straußberger Platz and made its way through the city center to Rotes Rathaus, where music and speeches filled the stage while a family festival took place until the afternoon.

IG Metall Berlin was traditionally present, with info stands about all union activities, solidarity collections for supporting Cuba against the US embargo and a fight for energy security. Berlin-appropriate afternoon-rave atmosphere was provided by Victoria Fisher, works council chair at MBition and persuasive dance-motivator.