On the 30th of June thousands of people took to the streets of Vienna, marching to voice their discontent with the current government’s plans to proceed with passing laws to allow the 12-hours work day. Considered a significant cut of the workers’ rights fought for by the Austrian proletariat and fuelled by the ongoing protests against the current (black / blue) government itself, more then 100.000 people attended the protest rally.
Although especially the yellow trade unions made a great effort of quelling the protest of the people on this saturday, attempting to pacify it and to channel the people‘s rage it into parliamentary and legalistic paths, the trade unions were incapable to impose their dominance over this struggle in many parts of the demonstration, as there were too many and too combative people in the demonstration. Austrian comrades who attended the demonstration report, that especially where Austrian Trade Union League was weak, the spirit of the participants was high and the mood combative. The 12-hours work day only serves to enslave the proletariat more, is a direct attack on the workers’ rights and aims to roll-back the achievements won by the Austrian proletariat. More then 100.000 people in anger on the streets of one city, on one day, sends a clear message about the price the attack on the workers’ rights, if further pursued by the government, will cost, as the current government, already symbol of great hatred among the masses, will raise the level of discontent amongst vast sections of the proletariat even further.
