From Cycle Chains, Bullets to Pay Packs

Evolution of State’s Response to Strikes 

Suppression of worker struggles in SL has evolved from Cycle chains, Batons, Bullets, Bombs; Tear gas & Water Canons to “Stay away with full Pay”. Achieving a “Great” victory, and with their handsome Pay-Packs intact, our teachers are ‘back to school’ to be greeted by kids carrying heavy Back Packs loaded with the pains of their parents caused by a historical dispute between senseless stupidity of a government and callous rigidity of a Trade Union combine. 

Carters’ strike 1906

 The carters led by ex police officer, John Kotalawala [snr] was a 5000-strong community who possessed the ability to sabotage 60 to 70% of the entire goods transport in late 19th.Century. A bye-law implemented by police led to a strike in August 1906. Carters gathered in thousands opposite Queen’s House in Fort, prompting the IGP to summon additional security. Negotiations succeeded within three days and the strike was called off.
A. E. Gunasighe, the labour leader, [prior to Trotskyites takeover in late 1930s] organized trade union actions such as Railway strike -1923, Harbour strike -1927 and Tramcar strike -1929.    

First General Strike—1947

Government Clerical Services Union [GCSU] was a powerful white-collar Trade Union that had struggled with colonial and local politicians since 1920s.  Not affiliated to any political party though, most of the members were inclined towards the two leftist parties of LSSP and CP leaders of which Dr. N.M. Perera and Pieter Keuneman supported and guided the union from mid-1930s. By 1940s it had a membership of around 20,000 out of a 36,000-strong government clerical force. Colonial rulers did not allow the government servants to enjoy political rights. State refused to recognise trade unions, leading to the first ever general strike in the island which occurred on the eve of Independence in 1947.

They adopted the following Declaration, “We earnestly declare, “that we shall not rest until we secure for the government servants full Trade Union rights as are accepted by the Ceylon TU Ordinance and civil liberties enjoyed by the Civil servants of UK and other independent nations of the world.”  -GCSU
Campaign gathered momentum with other unions joining, and by May 1947 it became a fiery power block. A panicked colonial government tabled two bills giving police draconian powers in its plan to suppress the action.  Governor, Sir Henry Moore feared the imminent possibility of public servants joining the fray, published a statement on May 22 threatening them that, if they join the strike they will be dismissed and in consequence will lose their pension rights. 

"In June 1980, some 400,000 State and private sector employees staged demonstrations, protests opposite their workplaces. Armed gangs led by government MPs emerged from the direction of Lake House started attacking the protesters with Cycle chains and grenades killing a Supplies Department worker"

The colonial government was badly hindered by the lack of cooperation from the DS Senanayake led Board of Ministers. DS waited for an intimation from colonial secretary on assurance on independence. The smart politician maintained, ‘I will not move a finger to deal with the strike, unless independence is promised’.   An early grant of ‘freedom’ came post while the rest of the harbour workers walked out.  Senanayake took over the handling of the critical situation.

Union leadership had to do something impressive to raise moral of strikers who decided to stage a demonstration from Slave Island to Kolonnawa factory; a ten thousand-strong work force marched with tough guys from port leading the procession.  Dr. NM Perera was seen for the first time participating in it.  Police first allowed the ‘heroic’ harbor gangs to go past the point of charge and then launched an assault. Dr. NM was injured and had to be rushed to hospital. Following a severe baton charge it was decided to open fire injuring a few and killing a white-collar worker named Kandasamy; [the second killing since January 19, 1940 plantation worker Govindan, during the Mooloya Estate strike] that ended the 1947 struggle.  

Hartal ‘53

At 1953 Parliamentary elections, UNP manifesto mentioned that, ‘as long as Sun and Moon exists, the highly subsidized rice ration of two measures per week, per person at 25 cents a measure will remain’. After winning comfortably the Dudley/JR government was forced to cut back the subsidy. They blundered by attempting to do it in one stroke—making a substantial rise from 25 to 70 cents a measure leading to a mass protest campaign called ‘Hartal’ with the closing of transport, work stoppage in shops and factories and abstinence from all engagements, when masses responded positively to leftists [LSSP/CP] call.  Trains in the Southern line came to a halt for a few days. Main roads were blocked by placing logs. They even used explosives to damage small bridges. A panic-stricken Cabinet sought refuge in a British Warship docked in Colombo Port.

It was decided to bring all affected districts under Martial law, with a 24-hour curfew and also authorized the armed forces to use fire-power, a painful decision for the 42-year-old PM, Dudley Senanayake, who reluctantly placed his signature on it. Eleven men were shot and killed, before the price of rice was reduced from 70 to 55cents. Dudley resigned from premiership and politics a couple of months later

Dr. NM Perera and the Bank Strike -1970s

Trade union leader turned Finance Minister NM, successfully crippled a general strike by Bank employees during SLFP/LSSP Coalition.  

How JR suppressed in 1980

Unable to bear rising prices, the working class demanded a monthly wage increase of Rs. 300 (Rs. 10 per day). On June 5,1980, a national protest campaign was launched during the lunch hour by a joint Trade Unions Working Committee with the participation of 1,024 trade unionists representing all fields to win the demand.  UNP trade union, Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya [JSS] declared a day of solidarity with the Government, in response to opposition backed TU action, on the same day. Several private sector unions decided to join the agitation on June 5.  

Some 400,000 State and private sector employees staged demonstrations, protests opposite their workplaces. Armed gangs led by government MPs emerged from the direction of Lake House started attacking the protesters with Cycle chains and grenades killing a Supplies Department worker named D. Somapala. Health employees, Local Government and school teachers joined the strike on July 20. Government set a deadline of July 23 to report for work. On July 24, 1980, PM, R Premadasa announced that 40,376 employees who did not report would be considered as having vacated posts and within a month all vacancies were filled on lists provided by UNP Parliamentarians, resulting in 53 strikers committing suicide.

Shooting in Rathupaswala- 2013

Under Rajapaksa regime in 2013, the army opened fire at a demonstration of residents in Rathupaswala, killing one person. They were agitating for fresh drinking water, since their wells got contaminated with a chemical leaked from an unauthorized factory. Investigations revealed that a Brigadier of the Army ordered the firing. Who instructed the Brigadier remains an unsolved mystery with both governments failing to go deep into the tragic event.
Why we call teacher struggle as great? - A leader courageously declared, “We are on strike; cut our pay and face repercussions!” 

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