WITH May Day in London returning to the street, it becomes a focus for the ever-increasing pressure on ordinary people both in Britain and around the world. 

The massive rise in the cost of living, employers adopting fire-and-rehire policies, the continuing massive profits for the rich and the large companies, cuts for those on benefits, the cost of housing and the increase of evictions in the rented sector etc etc — the list goes on. The profiteering during the Covid crisis while workers took the brunt is just another example.
 
May Day 2022 is celebrating the achievements of the working class — in the last two years primarily the massive efforts by workers to address the pandemic and keep our society going, from those in the health and care sector, other emergency services, transport workers, delivery, distribution and retail workers, power workers, education, etc. 

Many paid a heavy price, particularly in the health sector, and in London there were more than 50 bus drivers who died from Covid.
 
The Grenfell inquiry has shown what has been going on across our society with lowering of safety standards, commercial deceit and a government culture of profits over public safety.