This a report on how we developed the joint May Day statement.
We consulted with comrades worldwide twice to develop the joint May Day statement.
We used a free online survey from surveymonkey.com
We also sent out emails to consult comrades.
It is the first time we have done this global consultaton to prepare a statement. It was an experiment really. This is what we learned.
The first survey was run in February 2010.
About 1% of our subscribers responded. All responses were positive. The responses were very interesting and they changed the direction of our statement.
All responses wanted a very political, very class conscious, very internationalist statement. But they also wanted a very short statement.
We introduced some new issues because of the responses, including a stronger statement on the environment, and the issue of Gays & Lesbians. We removed the issue of language autonomy as it received very little support.
The overwhelming majority wanted a strong statement supporting the rights of migrant workers.
Many people requested translations in many languages.
One person requested that we should make a May Day greeting card that can be sent by email. We will do this if we can develop a nice design.
The second survey was run in March 2010.
About 0.5% of our subscribers responded.
We received only one negative response. All other responses were positive, but there were many requests for changes. Most of these requests could not be met.
Most responses wanted more details on the demands, however it was not possible to do this and also keep the statement short as the majority requested.
Some did not like the style and found it confusing. We received one completely rewritten statement that changed the style, but too late for us to send it out as an alternative option.
Some people said that the layout of the draft leaflet we produced was confusing.
Some people criticised that the statement does not use the word socialism. However many responses said we should not mention socialism or socialist countries because there is so much disagreement on this in the workers movement.
Many people stated that the statement makes many assumptions about the situation of workers in all countries, for which we may have no evidence. Some people asked that we should list more specific struggles, advances and defeats.
Some people wrote to us saying they were unable to use the survey online tool.
Some people corrected our poor spelling or gave us more precise words (thank you).
Having received such valuable feedback from comrades, overall we are pleased that we developed this statement.
These are our preliminary impressions:
1. It is difficult, but not impossible to have a global discussion to develop a joint statement. It felt like comrades who participated from around the world were sitting at at table next to us.
2. Most comrades are generally too busy to give detailed responses to discussion documents. Work on the streets and workplaces is a higher priority than email and web.
3. Comrades who disagree with a project will generally not respond rather than write back with critical responses.
4. Many comrades do not have enough access to fast internet and fast computers, to participate fully in a web based discussion.
5. A discussion that is just in English excludes many comrades from participating fully. (Yes we knew that already…)
6. Using the web for discussions does not overcome political differences. A joint statement will either mention socialism or it will not. That is a political issue, not an issue of different culture or communication and it can’t be solved with a survey.
We thank all comrades who responded to the May Day surveys and gave us adivice, positive comments or criticism.
We know that the joint May Day statement is not a complete expression of the struggle, demands and power of the global workers’ movement in 2010. However we want to continue developing ways of having global discussions among grassroots labour movement activists and genuine labour movement organisations.
We will list all endorsements to the joint May Day statement that we receive from genuine labour movement organisations
We still would like to receive other May Day statements, regardless of endorsement of the global statement. We will read them at May Day events in Melbourne and we may publish them.
Please send your statement to mayday@aawl.org.au
In solidarity
AAWL Publicity Team
Click here to endorse the joint May Day statement
This a report on how we developed the joint May Day statement.
We consulted with comrades worldwide twice to develop the joint May Day statement.
We used a free online survey from surveymonkey.com
We also sent out emails to consult comrades.
It is the first time we have done this global consultaton to prepare a statement. It was an experiment really. This is what we learned.
The first survey was run in February 2010.
About 1% of our subscribers responded. All responses were positive. The responses were very interesting and they changed the direction of our statement.
All responses wanted a very political, very class conscious, very internationalist statement. But they also wanted a very short statement.
We introduced some new issues because of the responses, including a stronger statement on the environment, and the issue of Gays & Lesbians. We removed the issue of language autonomy as it received very little support.
The overwhelming majority wanted a strong statement supporting the rights of migrant workers.
Many people requested translations in many languages.
One person requested that we should make a May Day greeting card that can be sent by email. We will do this if we can develop a nice design.
The second survey was run in March 2010.
About 0.5% of our subscribers responded.
We received only one negative response. All other responses were positive, but there were many requests for changes. Most of these requests could not be met.
Most responses wanted more details on the demands, however it was not possible to do this and also keep the statement short as the majority requested.
Some did not like the style and found it confusing. We received one completely rewritten statement that changed the style, but too late for us to send it out as an alternative option.
Some people said that the layout of the draft leaflet we produced was confusing.
Some people criticised that the statement does not use the word socialism. However many responses said we should not mention socialism or socialist countries because there is so much disagreement on this in the workers movement.
Many people stated that the statement makes many assumptions about the situation of workers in all countries, for which we may have no evidence. Some people asked that we should list more specific struggles, advances and defeats.
Some people wrote to us saying they were unable to use the survey online tool.
Some people corrected our poor spelling or gave us more precise words (thank you).
Having received such valuable feedback from comrades, overall we are pleased that we developed this statement.
These are our preliminary impressions:
1. It is difficult, but not impossible to have a global discussion to develop a joint statement. It felt like comrades who participated from around the world were sitting at at table next to us.
2. Most comrades are generally too busy to give detailed responses to discussion documents. Work on the streets and workplaces is a higher priority than email and web.
3. Comrades who disagree with a project will generally not respond rather than write back with critical responses.
4. Many comrades do not have enough access to fast internet and fast computers, to participate fully in a web based discussion.
5. A discussion that is just in English excludes many comrades from participating fully. (Yes we knew that already…)
6. Using the web for discussions does not overcome political differences. A joint statement will either mention socialism or it will not. That is a political issue, not an issue of different culture or communication and it can’t be solved with a survey.
We thank all comrades who responded to the May Day surveys and gave us adivice, positive comments or criticism.
We know that the joint May Day statement is not a complete expression of the struggle, demands and power of the global workers’ movement in 2010. However we want to continue developing ways of having global discussions among grassroots labour movement activists and genuine labour movement organisations.
We will list all endorsements to the joint May Day statement that we receive from genuine labour movement organisations
We still would like to receive other May Day statements, regardless of endorsement of the global statement. We will read them at May Day events in Melbourne and we may publish them.
Please send your statement to mayday@aawl.org.au
In solidarity
AAWL Publicity Team