GEFONT cepebrates May Day exclusively !

Posted On - 01/05/2006

May 1-Today we are celebrating May Day. GEFONT has very strong sentimental relation with May Day as its formally declared founding day in May 1, 1989 though GEFONT came in public at July 20th 1989. May Day has inspired the heavily suppressed workers of our country to fight for 8 hour working day and trade union rights. This day has always given inspiration to Nepali workers for the active involvement in the fight against Panchayati dictatorship in past and against the autocracy of King Gyanendra in recent years.

May Day 2006 has come to us with a lot of hopes. On the one hand the autocratic regime has now collapsed and on the other, the day has come with great expectation of peace, full-fledged democracy- the Loktantra and the building of a new Nepal. On this occasion GEFONT pays heartfelt tributes to all martyrs of Nepali movement and especially this time to the martyrs of the successful Popular Movement II the April Uprising know as Janaandolan bhag dui! With sincere thanks, GEFONT expresses best wishes to ICFTU, WCL, GUFs, democratic movements & entire national trade union movements of the world including ILO and various labour support networks who have supported directly/indirectly with strong solidarity to our movement.

On the occasion of May Day, GEFONT demands for immediate start of the process to take action & punish those who suppressed people during the Janaandolan and also demands for compensation to families of the martyrs, injured and disabled during the this movement.

GEFONT feels that we are entering to a phase of restructuring of Nepali society. With restructuring of state and society, it is our responsibility to build a strong trade union movement. On this occasion of founding day and the May 1st, GEFONT likes to indicate the need of developing a completely NEW trade union movement different from the already practised traditional track of one party – one union or trade union as a front of political groupings of various parties. As GEFONT has experienced, the former practice has promoted division by limiting unions in a narrow boundary whereas the later has promoted inter party political conflicts within trade union movement. Hence, GEFONT is of the opinion to develop a dynamic, independent, pluralistic Loktantrik (democratic) single union based on the value & principle of welfare state which will unionise 4.5 million Nepali workers of all occupations & sectors of employment. Only this type of union movement can satisfy all existing smaller/bigger trade unions and can make transformation of society much faster.

For the purpose, GEFONT requests the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) Government to develop necessary legal framework and appeals all active unions of various status to think and come forward for this initiative. GEFONT also requests the SPA government to reaffirm their commitment given to the trade union organisations in the eve of Loktantrik Andolan and urge to address the demands submitted by the three recognised national trade union centres under a scientific method. GEFONT demands for the repeal of all anti-worker– anti-people ordinances, for immediate disband of fictitious unions including yellow journo organization and for the establishment of integrated social protection fund with workers registration system.

Currently we are in the process of social transformation and hence we demand for fast go ahead in a route of Constituent Assembly election and institutionalisation of newly established Loktantra based on the spirit of popular movement designed in the roadmap of SPA  in order to solve the political conflict.

Nepal is of we Nepalis. GEFONT strongly demands for assurance of no role of any unelected institution, customary power and any special privilege & impunity to any family.

Happy May Day!

Issued by: National Executive Committee, GEFONT
Issued at: May 1, 2006