May Day sees peaceful protest and clashes

No sooner had Palma police forces seen the backs of the thousands of farmers who brought the city to a halt on Saturday in protest over the Balearic government's agricultural policies, the security forces were back on the streets again to monitor the nearly 1'500 people who took part in the annual May 1st Day of the Worker march. The number of marchers fell just short of the total number of workers who died at work last year and yesterday's rally was held under the slogan “work to live” with the emphasis being on safety in the work place. Last year 1'572 people died as a result of work accidents and the seriousness of this year's rally was marked by the attendance, for the first time ever, of members of the Balearic government. While the march was boycotted by two unions, it was led by the leaders of the Balearic branches of Spain's two largest unions, the CCOO and the UGT who were accompanied by the Balearic Minister for Employment Eberhard Grosske, the Minister for the Environment Margalida Rosselló, the secretary general of the PSIB-PSOE socialists Andreu Crespí and Balearic senator Manuel Cámara.