Post date: May 01, 2011 3:8:28 PM
Demonstrators from the Philippines to Germany take to the streets to call for better wages and working conditions.
VARIOUS-MAY DAY - Thousands of people march in the Philippines, calling for higher wages and better working conditions.
The demonstrations were among dozens held in major cities across the world to mark May Day.
In Manilla, workers burned an effigy of president Benigno Aquino and called on the state to raise the minimum wage from the equivalent of $9 a day.
LABOUR RIGHTS GROUP BUKLURAN NG MANGAGAWANG PILIPINO (UNION OF FILIPINO LABOURERS) NATIONAL PRESIDENT, LODY DE GUZMAN"This is our opportunity to let the current administration know about our sentiments. We are disappointed by what the current administration is doing because all we hear about is the price increase during his 10 months in service. We could not see his promise of a straight road leading to a better life."
Major protests were held across Asia, including in Bangladesh.
Workers there carried banners urging the government to raise the monthly minimum wage, which they say has not kept pace with inflation.
Meanwhile, transport workers in Greece staged strikes, causing the cancellation of ferries and trains.
Union members are upset with government austerity measures designed to help the country pay down its massive debt.
PROTESTER, KALIOPE VOUDOUROGLOU
"They are trying to tell us that we should pay for this crisis. Well no! As every day goes by workers are realizing that they don't owe a single euro because this is not their crisis."
The anger extended to Germany, where police and protesters clashed on the on the eve of May Day.
Police used waters cannons to disperse the crowd and said they were bracing for a larger demonstration today.
Andrew Raven, Reuters.