The Government has taken the threat of JVP strike action scheduled for July 10th very seriously. In 1980, a general strike broke out when inflation was at 26%. That was the maximum reached thereafter. But now according to non government sources, the inflation has gone up to 36%. In 1980, the strike broke out on July 17th and 13 federations backed it.
The then President JR Jayewardene took it very seriously and asked whether the country was governed by the trade unions or the president.
Though the year ‘80 has by now become ‘08, and 28 years have elapsed, the class forces are not united for the proposed strike action. It is basically a JVP affair for political gains. But the people are attracted because the situation is very bad.
People cannot
survive with their present salaries. In particular, in the government
sector, there is hardly any room for overtime 
while railway
season tickets have gone up in prices over 200%. In spite of the
sectarian policies of the JVP, the token strike could attract a
significant turn out. It is very likely that except diehard pro
government trade union leaders, all others will at least show tacit
agreement of the protest strike.
Bogus general trade union conference
On June 23,
2008 JVP trade union leader Lal Kantha called a bogus general trade
union conference at the railway head office conference room. They tried
to approach the rank and file trade union activists without inviting
the federation leaders.
They did not want it to be a big event where all the trade unions and federations came out against the Government. Then it will not be a JVP action but a joint action by all opposition trade unions.
In particular
the Leftist trade unions would make a bigger intervention challenging
the repression and the war conducted by the Government. As it is the
JVP wants to avoid such a confrontation. They still want to support the
war and continue to vote for the extension of emergency regulations in
Parliament. In fact, they falsely believe that by giving valuable
support in Parliament they could avoid harsh treatment from the
Government. Unfortunately they turn a blind eye to the fact that all
suppressions against trade unions in the past two years were by using
emergency regulations.
But the Government has started already, putting the patriotic war against the demands of trade unions and their proposed actions. How could any patriotic person put the government into difficulty when the latter is fully committed and absorbed in the war to crush the villain Prabhakaran!? Lakbimanews reported: “The Government cannot grant the trade union public sector pay hike demand of Rs.5000 when it is waging a war against the LTTE, UPFA General Secretary and Minister Susil Premjayanth said.”
He said further: “that trade unions and the people want the Government to defeat the LTTE and at the same time were demanding a Rs.5000 pay hike which is unacceptable.” Obviously, the minister was referring to the JVP trade unions and their political leaders. They are the only people who want the Government to intensify war efforts while paying workers lavishly! But in the recent period they have calmed down their war drums while increasing street agitations against repression and rising prices.
In a serious difficulty
Obviously the
Government is in a serious difficulty. Their masters, both from Delhi
and Europe have threatened them, asking them to cut down expenses and
to find a way for a negotiated solution to the Tamil national problem.
Particularly, the Indians are behaving very badly.
Only a few weeks back they silenced their South and gave the green light for intense action against the LTTE.
Apparently now they want Mahinda to hand over the Northern Interim Council to the armed Tigers with the possibility of merger of two Tamil speaking provinces. If Mahinda takes any step towards such a solution his agreement with Sinhala chauvinist forces will come to an end. That could be the end of the Government’s majority in Parliament.
So far, he has avoided facing a parliamentary election, and ridiculed the UNP request for one. Now his masters have pulled him out of his dream world.
Whether he goes through a parliamentary election or not he will be a prisoner of the UNP and its alliances.
while railway season tickets have gone up in prices over 200%. In spite of the sectarian policies of the JVP, the token strike could attract a significant turn out. It is very likely that except diehard pro government trade union leaders, all others will at least show tacit agreement of the protest strike.
Bogus general trade union conference
On June 23,
2008 JVP trade union leader Lal Kantha called a bogus general trade
union conference at the railway head office conference room. They tried
to approach the rank and file trade union activists without inviting
the federation leaders.
They did not want it to be a big event where all the trade unions and federations came out against the Government. Then it will not be a JVP action but a joint action by all opposition trade unions.
In particular the Leftist trade unions would make a bigger intervention challenging the repression and the war conducted by the Government. As it is the JVP wants to avoid such a confrontation. They still want to support the war and continue to vote for the extension of emergency regulations in Parliament. In fact, they falsely believe that by giving valuable support in Parliament they could avoid harsh treatment from the Government. Unfortunately they turn a blind eye to the fact that all suppressions against trade unions in the past two years were by using emergency regulations.
These regulations did not facilitate their war efforts, but were useful for the repression in the South; in particular against trade unions.
But the Government has started already, putting the patriotic war against the demands of trade unions and their proposed actions. How could any patriotic person put the government into difficulty when the latter is fully committed and absorbed in the war to crush the villain Prabhakaran!? Lakbimanews reported: “The Government cannot grant the trade union public sector pay hike demand of Rs.5000 when it is waging a war against the LTTE, UPFA General Secretary and Minister Susil Premjayanth said.”
He said further: “that trade unions and the people want the Government to defeat the LTTE and at the same time were demanding a Rs.5000 pay hike which is unacceptable.” Obviously, the minister was referring to the JVP trade unions and their political leaders. They are the only people who want the Government to intensify war efforts while paying workers lavishly! But in the recent period they have calmed down their war drums while increasing street agitations against repression and rising prices.
In a serious difficulty
Obviously the
Government is in a serious difficulty. Their masters, both from Delhi
and Europe have threatened them, asking them to cut down expenses and
to find a way for a negotiated solution to the Tamil national problem.
Particularly, the Indians are behaving very badly.
Only a few weeks back they silenced their South and gave the green light for intense action against the LTTE.
Apparently now they want Mahinda to hand over the Northern Interim Council to the armed Tigers with the possibility of merger of two Tamil speaking provinces. If Mahinda takes any step towards such a solution his agreement with Sinhala chauvinist forces will come to an end. That could be the end of the Government’s majority in Parliament.
So far, he has avoided facing a parliamentary election, and ridiculed the UNP request for one. Now his masters have pulled him out of his dream world.
Whether he goes through a parliamentary election or not he will be a prisoner of the UNP and its alliances.