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Today is Workers’ Day
Has May Day lost its significance?
By J.T. Rex Fernando
In Sri Lanka it has been the order of successive governments and trade unions to celebrate May Day with pomp and pageantry, but with no significant gains to the working classes. When we consider the slogans, speeches and platitudes that will be expressed at the various rallies and demonstrations one wonders how much of the significance of workers' rights and responsibilities will permeate the minds of those who will participate in these celebrations.

Political issues
This year following the tsunami devastation, the celebrations will evitably be on a low key, but divisive political issues however, rather than the questions of worker-welfare are likely to dominate the May Day tirades. Over the years it is an undisputable fact that politicians have deliberately divided the trade union organisations of this country into several groups to suit their needs. As a result the working class has not been able to win their common goals.

May Day was first celebrated in 1890, but came to be officially recognised at an international level only in 1917. Since then workers the world over have used the day to re-affirm their solidarity. In Sri Lanka the first association of workers was formed under the leadership of A.E. Goonesinghe. It is this union that initiated the commemoration of May Day with rallies and demonstrations.

May Day, however assumed greater significance only after 1956 when May 1st was declared a national holiday. Although at the beginning, celebrations on May Day were confined to trade unions of the left parties, right and centre parties started showing an active interest in May Day in the early 1960s.

Since then each political party having built its own trade union wing waited for May Day to show its strength and political power. A little introspection on this all-important day is not only appropriate but timely, particularly in the context of the present worker disillusionment in unions. Some of the pertinent questions the leadership must ask itself are:

a) What is the significance of May Day to the average worker?

b) Have the trade unions veered out of line?

c) Are the unions able to boast of any significant achievements for the working class? Have the unions lost more than what they might have gained for themselves?

d) Have the unions acted with responsibility and supported the process of national development?

Trade unions came into existence in an atmosphere of hostility from employers and governments. With the passage of time, however, they came to be tolerated due to necessity. With the strengthening of the trade union movement, tolerance changed to partnership. In this country however workers have over the years shown readiness to align themselves to political parties which means that they depend largely on the swing of the political pendulum to go the way they want.

It is ironical that in a country with a history of over 100 years of trade unionism and with 95% literacy, outsiders continue to manipulate the destinies of the workers. These self-appointed protagonists are either politicians or followers of some decadent ideology and use trade unionism to maintain or climb to power.

How wise is the trend among local unions to latch on to and associate themselves with various political parties in this country? Have they acted with responsibility and restraint? In the background of the recent strikes by doctors, engineers, plantation workers and alarming reports of violence and terror tactics of some unions it is difficult to understand the rationale of the union leaders. It is not trade unionism to resort to strike action for the slightest grievance, which should be the ultimate weapon when negotiations fail. The spate of strikes during the last five years has been alarming.

Out sourcing
The indiscreet use of strikes has resulted in an increasing number of business enterprises today "outsourcing labour" and obtaining the services of labour contractors to provide staff to perform core and ancillary functions. "Out sourcing" has resulted in workers being under-paid and deprived of some legitimate entitlements.

Today as an organized section of the people in the country, trade unions have a responsibility to make their contributions towards fashioning the country's political, economic and social structure. The principle "See, Judge and Act" should be the guiding force to provide the much required leadership the worker needs, so that freed from political parameters, workers can unite not only to achieve their rights but also realize their responsibilities to the community.

(The writer is a retired Consultant of Human Resources- SLAF)

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