May Day Eve: Remembering Workers' Anti-Colonial Struggle
May Day Eve: Remembering Workers' Anti-Colonial Struggle
On the eve of International Workers' Day, Kassahun Follo, President of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions, reminded us that African workers weren’t just building economies — they were fighting colonialism.
Labor movements played a vital role in resisting exploitation and reclaiming national sovereignty.
"The workers of Africa fought to throw away the colonial masters... They contributed a lot in different African countries," he told Sputnik Africa.
Looking back, May Day has been significant in Ethiopia. According to Follo, it has notably contributed to the development of labor awareness, literacy, and the growth of industrialization in the country.
Talking about today's struggles, Follo stressed that “Africans should mobilize civil society and the media. Don’t expect to strengthen Africa from abroad.”
He also highlighted the potential of alliances like BRICS to support African workers — through market access, industrial infrastructure, and capacity building. If well managed, he noted, these partnerships could “create jobs with improved standards and protections in Ethiopia.”
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