May Day, or International Workers’ Day, has its roots in the working classes’ struggle against exploitation and domination. It was born from the blood of anarchists murdered by the state after the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago – a militant strike for the eight-hour day. Ever since, May Day serves a reminder that the victories of workers were won by collective struggle, not handed down from on high. 

Our struggles have often been led by revolutionaries, anarchists and socialists who understood that the liberation of the working class could never come through bosses, politicians or the state – but only through our own power.

In 2025, the need for working class power is more urgent than ever. Trump’s re-election shows that far right populism, authoritarianism and reaction are on the march. The genocide in Palestine continues, as do the wars in Ukraine and Congo. Brutal repression continues in West Papua, and Kanaky still grinds against French domination. Imperialism stalks the globe, preparing to turn wars between several nations into a global one.

At home, Australia faces a cost-of-living crisis where many are choosing between food and rent, while fossil fuel giants rake in record profits. The upcoming federal election promises only more of the same: bipartisan support for austerity, war profiteering, imperialism and colonialism. 

Here in Geelong, politicians suggest a pretense that manufacturing jobs are returning. The reality is this tiny section of the workforce is underpaid and exploited, their labour wasted on production for the weapons industry. Meanwhile our hospitals are underfunded and the housing crisis escalates, as wealth is funnelled into fewer and fewer hands. Working people are expected to tighten their belts while the state continues to subsidise the military and private developers. This is not dignity. 

But amid this crisis, there are sparks of resistance. Over the past year, workers across Australia have fought back—striking, organising, and winning. From massive wage increases of up to 28% in the public sector to a historic rise in union membership, workers are rediscovering their power. We’ve seen a surge in both protected and wildcat industrial actions, and growing grassroots networks of solidarity. These victories have not come from above—they’ve been built by rank-and-file organising, community support, and a refusal to accept the status quo. They show that when we fight, we win.

Geelong Anarchist Communists was born out of this spirit of struggle. Since announcing ourselves on May Day 2021, we have been committed to building revolutionary organisation in the region. Our members have stood on picket lines, helped lead the victorious campaign of Geelong Regional Library workers, organised socialist and feminist public education, and worked with Free Palestine Geelong to build power through rallies, vigils and education – exposing the local arms industry’s complicity in genocide and the links to local politicians. Our Workplace Organising Workshops serve as spaces for workers to strategise and support each other in transforming their workplaces and communities. We’ve researched, resisted, and built links with comrades across the continent, culminating in our joint national conference last January and the formation of a united Anarchist Communist Federation.

Today we take that next step. We are proud to announce ourselves as a branch of the Anarchist Communist Federation, an organisation committed to class struggle, internationalism, and building the capacity of workers to fight and win. We believe in a future beyond bosses, prisons, and borders—a world built on solidarity, direct action, and workers power.

This May Day, we are proud of our history, we fight in the present, and we plan for the future.