By the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC)
This year’s May Day has been commemorated in a time of global pandemic. The world has been locked down by the corona crisis. In Pakistan too, there is complete or partial lockdown. To ensure the safety of workers and activists, the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC) restricted its massive public rallies, seminars and activities and organized instead a “Virtual May Day Rally” through social media outlets as well as symbolic demonstrations and study circles at more than 25 locations in Pakistan and its administrated areas of Kashmir.
Virtual Labour Day Rally
The rally started on 1st May at 10 am and continued to the afternoon. Hundreds of workers and students from different institutions and cities, including many overseas, connected to the rally through the internet. The rally was addressed by 45 labour and student leaders from 34 different trade unions and organizations along with representatives of Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC). Activists and leaders of PTUDC and Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) from Britain, Spain and Malaysia also spoke to the virtual rally. There were speakers from all parts of Pakistan and all parts of the labour and trade union movement and many youth and student organisations.
Overseas speakers included Amjad Shahsawar, former JKNSF president and organizer of the PTUDC in Malaysia, Irfan Yaqub, chairman JKNSF, United Kingdom branch in London, and Bilal Rind organizer of the PTUDC in Barcelona.
Relentless series of forced evictions
Speakers said that the current corona crisis has exposed the brutality of the neoliberal capitalism and the ruling elite, the system has been practically collapsed. The deteriorating state of the health system is evident all over the world. The situation of the working class in Pakistan is also deteriorated due to the lockdown. A relentless series of forced evictions and wage cuts has begun amid the corona crisis. The state is also failing to take concrete steps for the betterment of workers.
Speakers expressed solidarity with health workers who are at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus and demanded the provision of basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all the health employees. They also demanded bonuses for all health workers, equal to annual wages. They demanded an 8-hour working day in all public and private institutions with minimum wage equal to 12 grams of gold. They also demanded job security for all employees who are being threatened for eviction due to corona lockdown.
Demands for free education
The students’ leader demanded fee relaxation and a semester break during the crisis and demanded free education for all. The speakers stressed the provision of basic food necessities to the workers during the lockdown and endorsed PTUDC’s program against corona crisis.
Qamar Uz Zaman Khan from Sadiqabad, the central general secretary of the PTUDC, concluded the “virtual rally” and thanked all the speakers and stressed the unity of workers internationally against the corona crisis. He said the unity and solidarity among the workers can eradicate epidemics and put an end to the carnage of capitalism. A socialist organization is an essential tool for the workers in the fight in the fight against capitalism and imperialism. “Let us build the forces of socialism for the emancipation of the working class.”
In addition to the virtual May Day rally there were symbolic demonstrations and seminars held by PTUDC, JKNSF and labour organizations in many parts of Pakistan and its administrated areas of Kashmir.
Quetta
In Quetta, a virtual demonstration was organised by the Pakistan Workers Confederation Baluchistan, the United Labour Federation of Baluchistan, the Baluchistan Labor Federation, PTUDC and other labour organizations. Again, many representatives of local unions and youth groups spoke. organized a political congregation to commemorate the May Day and pay tribute to the struggle of Chicago workers.
Qalat
A protest was organized by Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign in Qalat on the occasion of International Workers Day. Activists of PTUDC participated, holding placards with the slogans against the imperialist and the anti-worker policies of the IMF and the Pakistan government.
Karachi
Two programs were organised in Karachi, one at Akhtar Colony and other at Gulshan-e-Maymar. At Akhtar Colony, the speakers of the events paid tribute (as did many speakers at other rallies around Pakistan) to the struggle and sacrifices of the Chicago martyrs at the founding of May Day, and also pledged to carry forward their mission to meet the challenges faced by the global working class. Our goal is to end the barbaric capitalism and build socialism, they said.
Dadu
A rally was held at Municipal park to pay tribute to the Chicago martyrs. Leaders and representatives of different labour organizations and trade unions attended the rally, although following the safety precautions against COVID-19. The rally was addressed by Imran zaonr, Raheel Zaonr district organizer Revolutionary Students Front (RSF) Dadu, Moryal Panwhar of Highways Union, Abbas Vighio of Auto Rickshaw Union and leader of PTUDC, Hanif Misrani.
Sehwan
On the occasion of May Day, PTUDC organised a ceremony in Sehwan, in which speakers talked about the importance of international labour day, the crisis of capitalism and plight of workers today, contractual system, forced dismissals, cuts in salaries and ban on unionization. The speakers discussed in detail the problems faced by the workers in pandemic, in all the necessary sectors including health workers and their solutions.
Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sindh
The PTUDC and the Unemployed Youth Movement (BNT) organised a program at Khairpur Nathan Shah, to pay tribute the struggle of Chicago workers. Ijaz Bhagio of PTUDC and Shoail Chandio of BNT spoke at the event. They also expressed solidarity with health workers who are fighting coronavirus.
Mirpur Bhotoro
Comrades of PTUDC and activists of labour organisation organized a demonstration in front of Mirpur Bhotoro press club to commemorate May Day. PTUDC District Sajawal leader Sikandar spoke.
Bhan Syedabad, Sindh
In relevance of International workers day, a ceremony was held by PTUDC in Bhan Syaedabad, in which workers and students’ representatives participated. The discussion led by Anwar Panhwar, president of PTUDC Sindh province. The ceremony ended with singing the Internationale.
Rahimyar Khan
A symbolic protest rally was organised by PTUDC and District Workers Action Committee Rahimyar Khan in front of the press club. It was attended by several trade union representatives who paid tribute to the martyrs of Chicago and took a solemn oath to stand against all forms of exploitation and oppression and continue the struggle till a Socialist Revolution.
We have only given here a flavour of the variety of May Day events around the country. No other labour or socialist organisation was able to organise such a wide variety of events in such a wide variety of places. In addition to those listed above, events were organised in:
Jampur, Kot Addu, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Lahore, Hassan Abdal, Swat, Malakand, Pakistan-held Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Rawlakot, Khaigala, Ali Sojal, Hajeera, Senhsa kotli, Palandri, Datot and Indian-held Kashmir
For all the details of the MayDay events in Pakistan, see the website of the Asian Marxist Review, here.
May 4, 2020
