Putting workers and people first, By Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu YusufWe need new elites, By Ireti Bakare-Yusuf
The conditions and forces that triggered the 1945 General Strike are still prevalent. If anything, they might have grown horns. The Strike began on 22 June. The first of its kind, it was led by Labour Leader No. 1, Michael Athokhamien Omnibus Imoudu. Its principal cause was the refusal of the colonial government to increase the wages of African workers in accordance with the Cost Of Living Allowance . The soil for the strike was fertilised by the government, which increased the salary package of the European staff, while refusing to do same for African workers, predicating this on the grounds of inflation.
So, a general strike is not something to be toyed with, or to be declared and suspended at the whims and caprices of leaders. Rather, it displays workers’ power, asserts the authority of unions, and is a weapon that defends, promotes and secures workers’ concessions from government and employers.At Premium Times, we firmly believe in the importance of high-quality journalism.
Together, they have successfully rolled back the state in the practice of development, through means like privatisation, de-industrialisation, retrenchment, naira devaluation, wage and salary freeze, non-payment of salaries and, increases in taxes, tariffs and levies. Other measures include the withdrawal of subsidies on basic needs such as education, health, electricity, petroleum products, and fertilisers.
But the Labour Movement has, since 1988, tolerated and encouraged this crises. Many of its leaders have stultified the union’s democratic heritage, discarded workers’ critical allies, aligned with oppressive governments, the exploitative arms of the private sector and politicians.
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