|
|
March of the July Brigade
Friday, 17 August 2012 - 1:48 PM SL Time
|
|
|
A group of people in their twilight years put up a massive show of strength in Colombo on Wednesday, pulling down as they did police barricades that blocked their march to the President`s Office. The protesters were some of the workers thrown out of their jobs by the J. R. Jayewardene government way back in July 1980 for the crime of demanding a pay hike of Rs. 10 per day! More than 50,000 people lost employment and dozens of them committed suicide. Most of the strikers were persecuted even after being sacked unable to find employment elsewhere they had no alternative but to settle for blue-collar jobs to eke out a living.
One could not but admire the senior citizens in action on Wednesday. They fought quite a battle! Old habits die hard, eh? Three decades ago, they had the courage to stand up to a seemingly monolithic UNP regime led by a president who boasted that the only feat he could not achieve with his unbridled executive powers and five-sixths majority in Parliament was to turn a man into a woman and vice versa. (But, we believe he succeeded in turning all his MPs save a few into gender-confused imbeciles! Else, they would not have signed undated resignation letters at his behest.)
It is a supreme irony that the July strikers have taken to the streets demanding justice at a time when the SLFP-led UPFA government is all out to crush two strikes one by the university teachers and the other by the Ceylon Electricity Board non-executive grade employees. The SLFP and its present-day left allies played a pivotal role in the abortive 1980 general strike. Together, they incited public employees to a work stoppage heedless of the consequences of their action. They knew the JRJ government intoxicated with power would not take it lying down. They made a cat`s paw of workers to pull political chestnuts out of the fire. The JVP backed out at the eleventh hour, trotting out some lame excuses.
Having sacked the strikers, the UNP added insult to injury by bragging that the Elephant had only shaken its tail, the implication being that it would not hesitate to resort to tougher action should there be another strike. Trade unions took years to recover from that ruthless crackdown.
Fourteen years after the disastrous strike, the SLFP-led People`s Alliance (PA) formed a government. But, it did precious little to redress the July strikers` grievances as evident in the slogans they shouted on Wednesday. The government has undertaken to solve their problems within three weeks, we are told. Will that undertaking end up being another broken promise?
Today, the UNP, which kicked over 50,000 workers out of their jobs in one fell swoop and meted out unspeakable treatment to trade unionists, is taking up the cudgels for workers` rights! The JVP, which let down the July strikers, is weeping buckets for the working class! The SLFP, which made a comeback by championing workers` rights, is trying to crush trade union struggles!
It is these political hypocrites that workers shamelessly carry on their backs in May Day processions singing hosannas all the way. One main reason why the trade union movement, which Churchill described as the Fourth Estate of the realm, has failed to evolve as a strong countervailing force against oppressive governments in this country, is its dependence on and subservience to political parties. Trade unionists political agendas have taken precedence over workers` rights.
It is high time trade unions stopped being pliable tools in the hands of wily politicians who seek expediency at the expense of the working class. There are lessons they should draw from Wednesday`s March of the July Brigade. When will they ever learn?
|
|
AnuD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 61632
Member Profile
|
 19 Aug 2012 17:34:58 GMT Report for Abuse
|
IT is the Same Trade Union Leaders some of whom are now governors. It is the same Political parties and politicians who are different levels in their hierarchy and with different loyalties.
But, the workers become foolish and get caught.
workers are not honest too. they don't tak their responsibility for this or that reason which can be it is their govt, or it is not their govt or simply they are piad enough.
In the USA and in the EUROPE high salary age is gone and now most lose jobs and who ever left over get extraordinary salary or wage cuts.
IT is the same in Japan where over 40 year old find very difficult to find a job.
So, Sri Lanka should expect that too because Europe, Japan or USA did not enjoy that good life for generations and it was only one generation.
JRj had done many pathetic things and no one talked those things except now.
Edited By - AnuD - 19 Aug 2012 17:35:47 GMT |
|
Search All News and Discussions