Sir, – Can I take issue with Nicholas Rhea (D&S May 1) when, in his article on May Day, he argued that its political connotations only began in 1978?

While May Day became a bank holiday that year, thanks to the Labour Government of that time, it has been the “Workers’ Day” for many, many years.

May Day was chosen as that day over 100 years ago, and was seen as the day in which we could commemorate the struggles and gains of workers and the labour movement. The most notable reasons to celebrate are the eight-hour day, holidays with pay, health and safety legislation, improved working conditions and child and family labour laws.

I have to stress that while these benefits were granted by government (in most cases by the EU and by Governments of the left) they would not have been attained without the collective action of organised workers and their trade unions.

That process is not finished.

We should honour, recognise and commemorate May Day not just for its historical significance, but also as the time to remember that only organisation and political action can defend those rights that have been won here at home, and those that are still waiting to be won elsewhere in the world.

DAVID WALSH Yeoman Street, Skelton.