Solidarity with Burma’s Working Class
The following statement has been circulated recently. Full statement after the jump, intro here:
‘We, the undersigned organizations, do strongly condemn that the military junta of Burma has issued a new decree to curb the workers’ right to form unions and to take harsh punishments against any industrial actions.
The military junta of Burma, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), decreed a new regulation on August 20 2010 at a meeting in Rangoon attended by industry employers, government ministers and Burmese military officials, including Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defense; which stated that, who launch or participate in industrial protests demanding better rights or conditions will be fired and blacklisted. The reason for the decree, as believed by the labor activists in Burma, is that the junta wants to prevent further industrial action and the employers also don’t want their workers taking action to demand more money, so now they can fire those who protest and stop them from getting jobs elsewhere. Because in March, workers at industries such as Shwe Pyi Thar, Taung Dagon and Hlaing Thayar launched protests demanding employers give them time off during public holidays and increase their salaries and payments for working overtime hours. An industry worker in Burma earns about 20,000 kyat to 40,000 kyat (US $20-40) monthly. Many of them have to work overtime to augment their insufficient income. ‘
We, the undersigned organizations, do strongly condemn that the military junta of Burma has issued a new decree to curb the workers right to form unions and to take harsh punishments against any industrial actions. The military junta of Burma, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), decreed a new regulation on August 20 2010 at a meeting in Rangoon attended by industry employers, government ministers and Burmese military officials, including Lt-Gen Myint Swe of the Ministry of Defense; which stated that, who launch or participate in industrial protests demanding better rights or conditions will be fired and blacklisted. The reason for the decree, as believed by the labor activists in Burma, is that the junta wants to prevent further industrial action and the employers also don’t want their workers taking action to demand more money, so now they can fire those who protest and stop them from getting jobs elsewhere. Because in March, workers at industries such as Shwe Pyi Thar, Taung Dagon and Hlaing Thayar launched protests demanding employers give them time off during public holidays and increase their salaries and payments for working overtime hours. An industry worker in Burma earns about 20,000 Kyat to 40,000 Kyat (US $20-40) monthly. Many of them have to work overtime to augment their insufficient income. Historically, labor movements have played a major role in Burma’s struggle against colonialism and fascist military dictatorships. Burma has experienced two major uprisings in its history that the workers played the leading role together with the students and general public: the”1300 (Burmese Era) anti-colonial uprising” and the student-led “8888″ pro-democracy demonstrations. The 1300 anti-colonial uprising took place from 1938 to 1939 and was kindled by a labor strike staged by works from the Chauk petroleum refinery owned by British Oil Company (BOC). The “1300 uprising” awakened strong patriotic and nationalist sentiments throughout the whole country and paved the way for countrywide anti-colonial independence movement. Following the military coup in 1962 led by General Ne Win, democracy, human rights and freedom to form independent labor unions became effectively suppressed; education, health and other socio-economic determinants deteriorated significantly as well. Under General Ne Win’s Revolutionary Council, and later the BSPP (Burma Socialist Program Party), workers in Burma faced various forms of oppression and exploitation, including low pay, poor living conditions and lack of personal security. In June 1974, railway workers in Burma staged a strike that later culminated into a nationwide workers’ strike. The strike bought all government administration and operation of public works to a virtual standstill. The workers demanded higher salaries, lowering of basic commodity prices, freedom to form an independent labor union, and some fringe benefits for their families. The government rejected their demands, and the workers’ strike was effectively crushed. Many workers were gunned down inside the factories and on the streets; others were arrested and sentenced to long-term imprisonment, fired from their jobs, transferred to other town and cities, or forced into early retirement. During the 1988 nationwide demonstrations in Burma, many government workers joined the students’ call for democracy and human rights in the streets of Rangoon and other cities. The demonstrations quickly gained momentum and ultimately became the largest uprising in the history of modern Burma. The one-party system government of General Ne Win faced a serious political crisis, and, again, the government administration came to a virtual standstill as a general strike was affected. During the demonstrations, a myriad of independent organizations, including labor unions, emerged throughout the country. Following the September 18 military coup, however, all independent organizations and unions were banned. Many of the workers who participated in the demonstrations were given long-term prison sentences, dismissed from their jobs, transferred to other locations, or forced into early retirement. Despite the several attempts made by labor right activists and lawyers helping the labor rights issues to register an independent labor union, the regime has always turn down the application. On June 23, 2010, Burmese regime has rejected an application to form a “Burma National Labor Union” again. In the absence of independent labor unions and other channels- such as a free press – to express their grievances, workers in Burma remain exploited by both the foreign and local factory owners and they have no means to demand the bereft of all workers’ rights, adequate pay, proper working conditions and personal security. Therefore, we the undersigned organizations and political parties declare our solidarity with the struggle of Burma’s working class hereby demand that: 1. The new regulation to prevent the labor rights should be abolished 2. Any form of repression of workers by factory owners or government agencies should be rejected 3. Full democratic rights for the workers including the right to organize, build independent trade union and to form political parties. We declare our fullest support to the People of Burma to build a democratic Burma, because only with a democratic Burma prosperity and justice can be achieved. Workers of the world unite! (This statement is initiated by Working People Association (Indonesia) and Network of Progressive Youth Burma, if your organization would like to sign please email: international@prp-indonesia.org)
Perhimpunan Rakyat Pekerja
Working People Association
工友联盟
Ассоциация Трудящихся
l’Association des ouvriers
काम पीपुल्स एसोसिएशन
تعمل رابطة الشعوب
Trabalho Associação dos Povos
作業人民協会
Asociación de Trabajadores
Jalan Cikoko Barat IV No 13, RT 4/ RW 5, Jakarta Selatan 12770, Indonesia
Telephone/Fax: +62-21-7982566
Mobile Phone: +62 8571 6280 745
Email: komite.pusat@prp-indonesia.org/ prppusat@yahoo.com
Website: www.prp-indonesia.org
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