REPORT - LABOUR DAY 2009:

REPORT for CELEBRATION OF LABOUR DAY

Sindh Net is a network of several NGOs, working on issue based program in the district of Mirpurkhas. SIND Net is a network that believes in self-supervised development activity. Our Network believes in problem oriented social research and to deduce policy measures for sustainable development with innovative and practical approaches. SIND Net is working for the empowerment of people at grass root level.

Sindh Net arranged seminars, awareness walks, capacity building training programs, emergency camps for helping peoples, and many other activities for the empowerment of people. The peoples of the district Mirpurkhas are much awoke and cooperative. Whenever needed, they come out for their rights and achievements toward empowerment of peoples.

SIND Net engaged a meeting with WAPDA trade union and Mirpurkhas Trade union for celebration of Labour Day. Where all the participants of the meeting decided to celebrate the Labour Day on the 1^st May 2007 with the coordination of local trade unions, NGOs and civil society networks.

A Brief History of Labour Day or May Day...

In the 1860's, they campaigned for shorter working hours in many countries. On May 1st, 1886, workers in Canada and the United States held peaceful strikes and rallies to demand an eight-hour workday.

Two days later, Chicago police killed several demonstrators at a clash between workers and scabs in that city. A rally was held in Haymarket Square to protest the killings, and when police tried to forcibly disperse the crowd a bomb was thrown. Seven police were killed; dozens in the crowd were injured.

Eight leaders of the Chicago workers' movement were charged with the police deaths although none had thrown the bomb. They were all convicted. Four were executed, one died in custody, and three were given life in prison, but were eventually pardoned.

In memory of this struggle, and the struggle of all workers for better conditions, May 1st was declared an eight-hour holiday in 1889, by the International Workers’ Congress in Paris.

In many countries, May 1st is a worker’s holiday celebrated every year.

Rally with Coordination of Local Trade Unions:

SIND Net arranged a rally and seminar with the coordination of trade unions and civil society and NGOs. The peoples of district Mirpurkhas came together for the celebration of Labour Day in memory of struggle of all workers and labors for their better conditions.

First, the rally gathered at the station chowk of Mirpurkhas where one by one every group arrived. The rally becomes a huge crowed near about 450 persons participated. At the time of 10:00am the Rally started to walk around the city for awareness about Labour Day with their banners, flags, play cards and slogans. The Rally was quit well and peaceful. All the Participants have showed a good social behavior.

The Most Used Slogans of the Rally:

1. “MAZDOOR MAZDOOR - BHAI BAHI”,

2. “YEH NIZAM HEY KHARAB - INQILAB INQILAB”,

3. ”JAB TAK BHOOK OOR NANG REHEY GI - JANG REHEY GI, JANG REHEY GI”,

4. ”AATA MEHNGA - HAAY HAAY”,

5. ”CHINEE MEHNGEE - HAAY HAAY”,

6. ”KAPRA MEHNGA - HAAY HAAY”,

7. ”I.M.F OOR WORLD BANK PER - LAANAT LAANAT”

And

8. “GENRAL KERNAL - BEYGAYRAT BEYGAYRAT”.

The seminar hall decorated with all the banners and flags by the participated trade unions, civil society networks and NGOs. The seminar is a civilized program, which not only empowered people, but also the message goes to media for wider coverage.

Our seminar started at 11:20am with recitation of holly Quran. The comparing have been paid by Mr. Ali Afzal. He did a very good comparing with the stanzas in favor of labour and the martyrdom of Chicago During the speeches; kids sang songs and poems, which made occasion very pleasantly.

He paid marvels address in honour of workers and labour. He said that we wont like to crush our lives, we must have to bring a revolution and get rid of these curl govt. rules. It is only possible in the unity of all the workers. More he said, when the Govt. wants to implement uncivilized rules and banned the employee’s trade unions and associations than we need to show them the power of labour to stop them doing dictatorship.

In his address he asked that what we have done yet against the martyrdom of worker of Chicago?

80% population of this country is deposited in the safe of 20% greedy population. In this country there are tow kids of peoples, one who is doing Labour and other one who is living on the labour hood of a labour. They are now selling out all the country even the cattle forms too. They have forgotten the death of King of Iran whom the dust of his own homeland never given. We as members of Labour unions have to get rid of all the black rules governed by the fast government.

Mr. Mir Saffder Talpur: {President, Bounded Labour liberation Front (BLLF), Member of SIND Net }

He started speech with a red greetings towards all the workers and labors. He notify that a child of labour have died but no any govt. official taken interest in sympathy with his family nor helped him in medication. He mention that every where the curl is ruling over, poor becoming more poor and rich wants to become more richen.

In his speech he has given several idiomatic examples like, if a father eats with full desire of hunger and spending his life with joys, while his own kids remains hungry than it’s a point of death for humanity. As this, our Govt. is doing with us. In the worship of USA, Israel and Europe, the officials have forgotten his own poor nation. We have to come in unity and power so that can implement the developed human Labour laws.

In few words he paid KHEYRAJ-e-AQIDAT to all the workers who died in straggle for the better working conditions of labour

He urged to awoken your friends and relatives for the battle of their rights. He told the condition of customers in banks that how they face the problems when they go to a bank. The condition of getting salary is very bad. Opening bank account for a labour is also bad enough. More he added that nationalization of schools is our weakness through which this greedy Govt. will suck the blood of labour. He told the audience that in UK, the labour union of UK Railways has came insisted a Minster to sign a pact on the track of Railway Line. He insists all the workers and labour for creating unity among our lines.

He mentioned the corruption during the rehabilitation program for the earthquake effected peoples in Northern Areas of Pakistan. He told, that during the earthquake, labour is the most effected person, and until he is hopeless. “Sermayadar” creates this situation and these “Sermayadar” have taken the rights of labors due to our weakness. They looted not only our wealth, possession but also crushed the desires of a common Labour. On the other hand Govt. policy for privatization is killing the families of labour. The privatization of PTCL, The privatization of Steel Mill, The privatization of WAPDA, and the privatization of Ports and Ships, all of these are death of workers. He strongly emphasized for awoken the labour and ready to fight against the labour rights. One day the dream of social life of a labour will come true.

He notify present condition that the unemployment is have reached towards sky. The life of every common man has made very hard to live happily. The situation made by govt. is very worse. The need of unity is necessary by the time.

His speech was against the divided straggle and the system of curls among the people.

In few words he paid KHEYRAJ-e-AQIDAT to all the workers who died in straggle for the better working conditions of labour.

He said that the present condition is not in favor of labour but the unity of worker will make it possible.

His way of singing a poem of “Shahid Ludhyanvi” was very impressive. The title of his poem was “SAREY DUNYA KEY DANISHWAR”. The stanzas of poem were quit well effective and pointed to think about the life of a labour.