RPF calls for development of labour class and cultivate work culture
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 30 2012: On the occasion of May Day, the proscribed revolutionary organisation Revolutionary Peoples' Front (RPF) and its armed wing Peoples' Liberation Army (RPF) have greeted the labour community of the world in general and labourers in Manipur in particular.

In a statement, RPF stated that people in the upper classes have been suppressing the labour class throughout the history of mankind.

Since ancient times, rich bureaucrats have been violating the rights of the workers and after industrial revolution; many workers were left in the lurch.

By 18th century, a capitalist society came into existence in the Western countries.

As a result, the Mechanics Union of Philadelphia raised the demand of reducing the working hours to 10 hours a day.

At that time, the workers were forced to work for 18 to 20 hours a day.

The standard of the workers in that time was also more pitiful than the slaves in Egypt.

The demand for reducing the working hours to 8 hours was raised in 1850.The proposal was approved in Australia in 1856 and the working hours were reduced to 8 hours.

In 1875, 10 labours were hanged to death in Pennsylvania on alleged charge of instigating workers against the government.

After the incident, a movement was initiated in 1877 by workers in rail lines and mines in America.

In 1884, the Federation of Organised Trade and Labour Union resolved to bring up the demand of reducing working hours to 8 hours a day.

Following the resolution, a mass movement was organised in different parts of United States on May 1 in 1886 .

In the following days, a clash erupted between the agitating workers and police when the latter tried to disperse the peaceful workers causing death and injuries of several people, the outfit recalled, and added that observance of May Day is becoming even more relevant today in view of continued oppression of the labour class.

However, in the state, the workers are living their lives in a very deplorable condition.

In addition to being a small state and absence of big factories, workers in the state have not been able to mobilize their strength united against the oppressing capitalists in the society.

Workers and farmers in the state continue to work for survival with no hope for improvement of their future in near future.

Noting the pitiable situation and living standard of the workers and farmers in the state under the colonial government, the statement further called for a united effort to uplift the status of the workers and farmers of the state and also cultivate work culture among the people.

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