May Day on Thursday:

Working class should be united to face threats - Alavi Moulana

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Honesty, integrity and not indulging in petty partisan communal politics are the characteristic features of the long-standing political career of Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana.

During his illustrious political career, he played a pivotal role as a true trade unionist within the country's trade union movement to safeguard the rights of the working class.

The Governor in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the working class can win their demands only if they are organised and united.

Therefore, the working class should be organised to face threats and challenges. At present there are more trade unions than working class members. This is the biggest problem faced by the working class movement throughout the world.

Governor Moulana said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is also a member of the working class. He has immensely contributed to our struggle. He has taken part in many picketing and agitational campaigns launched by us. So when comparison with other leaders, I think President Rajapaksa is a true trade union leader than previous leaders.

President Rajapaksa is hearing to the problems faced by the working class. He has not suppressed the workers rights.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: What made you take to trade unionism?

A: I am from Weligama. My family members were close associates of Dr. S.A. Wickremesinghe. That influenced me to become a member of the left movement. Since then I have engaged in activities pertaining to the trade union movement. Some of the my contemporaries in the trade union field were late D.G. William, Dr. Colvin R de Silva, L.W. Panditha and Piyadasa Aadipola.

Q: Could you narrate as to how you launched trade union activities and its landmarks?

A: Actually this is a difficult job. Because earlier the leftist movement was strong. Later there were factions among them. So the disunity in the workers movements even caused deaths among the working class. At one time, we were even allowed to picket. During the 1980 July general strike, I was stabbed without any reason. Even any demands made were thwarted before we discussed it. That was the past in the trade union movement.

Q: One or twice you fell victim to political violence. Could you explain?

A: The then Government in power tried their level best to suppress and oppress the victories gained by the working class. There were hired goons employed by the state to suppress any justifiable demand of the working class. But those tactics that made us strong. So its a long drawn out story. At the end of day, the Government did not succeed.

That Government talked about safeguarding human rights, but they stifled workers rights rather than observing the rights of the working class.

Q: What is your message to the working people?

A: Get organised to face threats and challenges. I think the working class can win demands only by being organised and united. But today there are more trade unions than working class members. This is the biggest problem faced by the working class throughout the world.

In a work place the workers should be united and have one union. But there are so many unions in any work place. When one section strikes, the other section works. I think we are to be blamed for the disunity and all our setbacks.

Q: Do you think workers are better off under the present government?

A: Even today workers do not receive the salary that they deserve. They are underpaid. But I should say that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is also a member of the working class.

He has contributed immensely to our struggle. He had been there in every picketing and agitation campaign launched by us. So when compared with other leaders, I think President Rajapaksa is a true trade union leader compared to previous leaders.

Q: Don't you think some sections of the working class are still deprived of their legitimate rights such as EPF, ETF and leave?

A: Those who deprive the workers of EPF dues should be called criminals.

Because the workers have also contributed to the EPF, their money too has been robbed.

Q: How do you explain the role of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a true trade unionist who always empathized with the poor?

A: As I said earlier, President has participated in our agitational campaigns. The President was the leader who introduced the Workers Charter.

That Workers Charter didn't see the light of the day. That is because of the pressure exerted by the former Government against our present President for trying to introduce the charter. Therefore, the history of the country's trade union movement has not been favourable.

Even today, we have workers May Day. It is the only day that we can express our solidarity.

The workers May Day is coming up. At the last year's May Day rally, the President said it was the biggest May day rally held in the country. Therefore, on this May Day too, there will be a good response from myself.

Q: What was the attitude of successive UNP Governments towards the country's trade union movement?

A: The UNP represents vested interests. So exploitation was there. They have never given any rights to the workers. The workers were jailed by them. But I don't want to mention names. One of the former UNP Presidents said that the workers should be sent on permanent retirement.

That was the past history of the UNP Governments towards the working class. President Mahinda Rajapaksa listens to the problems faced by the working class. He has not suppressed workers rights. But so far the workers have not got the dues that they should get. This is the problem.

Q: What is the UPFA's theme for this year's May Day rally?

A: Development and the united action for the working class is the UPFA's theme for this years May Day. I think there will be better response for this year's May day than last year.

The unity and solidarity of the working class will be displayed on the May Day.