GLASGOW played host to a massive May Day march and rally on Sunday, with trade unionists and speakers paying tribute to the city's long tradition of workers' activism.
Over 3,000 people joined the event organised by the Glasgow Trades Union Council.
They marched through the city's streets from George Square, led by pipe and brass bands and bearing a multitude of trade union, socialist, communist and political banners.
After the colourful march, activists packed into the Old Fruit Market for a lively "Maydaze" rally, which was addressed by a range of speakers from the trade union, peace and labour movements.
Scottish TUC youth committee chairwoman Jenny Duncan said that young workers were standing alongside their older colleagues as they "take on and beat the unacceptable face of global profit," while Glasgow MP Ian Davidson paid tribute to 150 years of Glasgow Trades Council, with its "proud record of taking up progressive causes."
Mr Davidson said that the local TUC had been "at the forefront" of campaigns on unemployment, housing, rent strikes, education and industrial disputes.
He added that "Glasgow MPs who voted against Trident's replacement were encouraged by the knowledge that we had the support of the local trades council and local unions."
Scottish CND chairman Alan McKinnon argued that the "third wave of CND" had to take place in the wake of September 11, the "war on terror," the Iraq and Afghan wars, the Missile Defence System and "Britain's decision to replace Trident."
Mr McKinnon said that opposition to the Trident plans encompassed 60 per cent across Britain and was stronger still in Scotland, where "the people, the parliament and the government all oppose it."
Senior Unite official Agnes Tolmie brought greetings from the union's women's committee and noted that, after 30 years of equal pay legislation, there was still a gender pay gap of 19 per cent.
She demanded "mandatory pay audits" for firms to "stop employers from being let off the hook" on pay justice.
The speeches were followed by musical entertainment from Dougie Maclean, La Sonera Calaveras, Arthur Johnstone, Gordeanna McCulloch and there were also arts, crafts and storytelling to be found among the various stalls in the market, plus martial arts and African drumming workshops.
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