May Day messages

In Chicago in 1886, an unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at police as they dispersed a public meeting, after the Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight hour workday. Several demonstrators and policemen were killed. Four years later, at a meetingto commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, international demonstrations were called to mark the anniversary of the Chicago protests. Thus May Day was formally recognised as an annual event in France. Since then, the day has been celebrated in at least 80 countries around the world as a public holiday to remember the rights of workers.In Nepal, May Day was celebrated for the first time in 1963, and it was declared a public holiday in 2007. However, May Day, also known as International Labour Day, has been observed mostly by left-wing forces in the country as a medium to flex political muscle. Mass street protests have been a common feature, but instead of focusing on labour rights, the holiday has largely been limited to political grandstanding.
The most prominent political campaign centring on May Day in recent history was the Maoist party’s endeavours to bring revolution to the streets of the capital in 2010 through a nationwide strike, with calls for the resignation of the then PM Madhav Kumar Nepal and his cabinet. Two years on, the political mood has changed drastically, and this year, no major plan to use the holiday as a platform to set political agendas, by any party, has been made. This is because parties are beginning to realise that the years squandered quarrelling and showcasing strength have not yielded positive results. Not to mention, with little time remaining to write a new constitution, the focus of major parties has rightly been on reaching consensus, not harbouring differences.
But the core elements of May Day remain as relevant as ever. Last year saw the friction between trade unions and employers result in the complete shutdown of Surya garments, a major garment factory. Major industries and hotel chains have suffered strikes and closures over disputes between labour unions and owners. But while party leaders are busy with final negotiations over constitutional issues, without economic development to follow in the days after May 27, sustainable peace will be difficult. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind the necessity of harmony between workers and their employers. The best way in which to do this is to ensure the rights of workers in the new constitution. Measures to decide on and implement minimum wages, job security, social security, and to create a safe working environment, are absolutely essential to any functioning democracy. Ending exploitative practices and creating a conducive atmosphere for private enterprises to invest requires understanding each others’ concerns and addressing them. Only then can genuine development flourish. Without that, continued friction between owners of capital and workers is sure to obstruct growth even with a new constitution in place.
Posted on: 2012-05-01 08:52