Unions go ahead with May 1 rallies, ignoring official May 7 change in date

Lankan trade unions are to ignore a Government decision to change May Day, saying they will go ahead with May 1 rallies and processions – bracing for a possible confrontation on the streets with the authorities.

The Government has declared May 7 as the May Day holiday instead of May 1 Tuesday, which is the traditional International Workers Day, since the normal date clashes with the Vesak celebrations.

However an umbrella group of trade unions on Thursday said in a public statement: “… we as trade unions will proceed to hold our joint May Day rally as usual on May 1 whatever hurdles there could be. We therefore call upon all organisations, groups and individu- als who stand for human, democratic and worker rights to join hands with us, this May Day.”

The group comprised 14 unions - Ceylon Bank Employees Union, Ceylon Mercantile Industrial & General Workers Union, Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union, Ceylon Estate Staff Union, Union of Postal and Telecommunication Officers, United Federation of Labour, Ceylon Teachers Union, Insurance Employees Union, Women Workers Solidarity Union, Commercial & Industrial Workers Union, All Employees Union of Information Telecommunication, Telecommunication Engineering Diplomat's Association, Federation of Media Employees Trade Union and Government United Federation of Labour.

"We strongly protest the decision of this “good governance” unity government that has not only postponed the international workers’ day on May 01st that in Sri Lanka is a workers’ right to celebrate, but also its attempts at disrupting any workers’ celebrations on May Day."

The statement said that it was in 1956 that May Day was declared a holiday in Sri Lanka for public, bank and the mercantile sectors.

“After 62 years this government has declared May Day a working day by issuing a gazette notification that has created confusion even among the top bureaucracy. Government has on a unilateral decision, declared May 7 as the alternate day for May Day celebrations. The government did not even consider it worth discussing the issue of postponing May Day in the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) before it decided on the postponement,” it said.

Following the change in the date for May Day celebrations, the major partner of this government, the United National Party which now controls the Colombo Municipal Council has refused permission for May Day rallies to be held in public parks on May 1, the statement said, adding: “The government has thus achieved an indirect ban on all May Day celebrations in Colombo”.

“It is our experience now, this government that gives into wheeler dealer interests is openly and seriously into curbing worker and democratic rights. All these including the postponement of the May Day and refusing permission to hold May Day rallies in public parks, fall in line with the appointment of a businessman who was brought into parliament on the UNP national list, being appointed as acting minister of Labour and Labour Relations. We therefore forewarn, these developments would leave all promises and guarantees given by this government to the EU in regaining GSP + as benefits and advantages to the businessmen and not to the people and the workers of Sri Lanka,” it said.