In 2006, the celebration of Labour Day raises questions concerning the precarious nature of trade unionism, the weakening of collective bargaining in Mauritius influenced by new formulas proposed by the employers as well as increasing tension and disagreement among trade union federations.

Labour Day celebrated on the 1st of May retains its symbol regarding the importance of the worker in the job environment. In the form of rhetoric, it is time and again voiced that workers are the firm?s asset and represent the most important linkage within the work process. Celebrated first in 1949, following the fight of Guy Rozemont to dedicate a holiday to labourers and artisans on sugar estates, Labour Day is considered as a symbolic day for reflection on the fate of the employee in the future. In his motion, Guy Rozemont stated, ?This Council is of opinion that the 1st May be considered a public holiday to allow the workers of this colony to have a day's rest to celebrate labour ideals.?

Over the years, Labour Day has been better associated with important crowd gatherings at political meeting, especially during pre-electoral campaigns. Trade unions have voiced their disagreement upon this trend since they had to content themselves with sparsely seated members in their traditional assemblies. The present situation in Mauritius raises arguments relating to the precarious nature of trade unionism.

Trade unions no more enjoy the popularity and credibility that they were entitled to during the first half of the last century, including the 1970s symbolised by the pervasive influence of militancy known as ?années de braise?. Efforts to weaken trade union influence have been recently witnessed. At times, leaders have stated that the modern era of industrial relations does not easily accommodate collective bargaining. The fact is that an industrial environment favours activities on a three-tier day where work interruptions and go-slows undermine the country?s economical activity.

Employee affiliation to trade unions has decreased with a fairly low level of unionisation at the workplace. New jobs that require more intellectual and less labour-intensive ones easily call for a low level of unionisation. This concept is viewed as ?l?affaire des autres? and is better associated with the restlessness of trade unions with their work-related problems. Incidentally, industrial unions have weakened while white-collar unions under the umbrella of the Front Syndical du Service Civil (FSSC) have increased. This is attributed to the ?closed shop? nature of such jobs.

The weakening of collective bargaining

Collective bargaining remains the most vibrant aspect of workplace democracy. Employers have felt that this undermines work performance and puts undue pressure on remuneration. Over the years and especially in this millennium, employers in Mauritius have found it necessary to reinvent bargaining processes. They state that the present bargaining situation is counterproductive in that it does not impact on productivity and ignites the demand spiral where the vicious circle of increasing production costs and salaries hide the real problem of sustaining productivity.

This year, the traditional collective bargaining seems to give way to a new reward mechanism based on company gains and productivity. This attitude had been earlier forwarded by employers and it rarely met with concrete solutions. Under this system, the more productive workers will be better remunerated leaving lesser room for inefficiency and complacency.

Though the whole country favours a situation where compensation and employee relations are viewed in a holistic way, little can be said of the declining power of trade unionism and the weakening of collective bargaining. History has revealed that workplace democracy should be maintained as a pillar of democracy. This has been evidenced in prominent works including contributions of Emile Zola (Germinal), George Orwell (Animal Farm) and proponents of a classless society, following May 1968 in France and the early seventies in Mauritius, to date a utopia.

Tension among trade union federations

Leadership crisis in trade unions is another illustration that calls for reflection. The actual context illustrates a high level of disagreement between trade union leaders where leadership takes a severe blow. It is a normal course of history to evidence leadership crisis in the storming phase that group formation undergoes. Unfortunately, the greater the strain between trade union federations, the weaker the power of trade unions is perceived in collective bargaining. This situation calls for more skepticism from workers and a lesser interest to join trade unions.

Trade union leaders should have sensitised public opinion in a constructive way in the present era. On the one hand, external factors are putting undue pressure on the Mauritian economy with soaring and less predictable production costs. Since overheads are just keeping rising, trade unions could not really ?apporter l?eau au moulin? or simply heat up the debate. The difficult situation is understandable and the stance of trade unions remains static.

On the other hand, the high level of discontent among leaders makes it easier for government and the employers to maintain the tempo. A call for the improvement of work conditions is difficult in a setting where job losses and restructuring are inevitable and reflects the real nature of the economy.

It is not on the 1st of May that employees will solemnly listen to trade unions and consider the importance of being unionised. Mauritius is a country of traditions with deeply-entrenched values of work, lively industrial relations, collective bargaining and dialogue. It is imperative to rethink dynamising trade unionism because leaders are chosen to respond to employee expectations and demands. The fact of accepting retreat too easily undermines the nature of trade unions that constitute the cornerstone of collective bargaining.

<I> ?This Council is of opinion that the 1st May be considered a public holiday to allow the workers of this colony to have a day?s rest to celebrate labour ideals.? </I>

There are a few points to ponder. Companies having a long-standing history of successful entrepreneurship suddenly retrench middle-aged employees. Expatriates who have invested locally have left the country without being contacted and called on to explain their position. Foreign workers still face trouble and live in appalling conditions. Also, Mauritius places the stakes high with the vision of becoming a first world country by 2025 or somewhat earlier.

Too many agendas pile up the table and trade unions have to sort them out. Reflection on sensible issues on 1st May is a logical follow-up of the ongoing challenge facing the workplace. Paradoxically, trade unions do not look heightened up in their aspirations. The symbolism linked with Labour Day should not be viewed with complacency and merely as a remembrance of a historical initiative. Collectively, trade unions still have to bargain in a new environment, with new challenges and more rigour to meet the expectations of the workforce where Mauritian employees urge to be supported, indefinitely and unconditionally.

Nirmal Kumar Betchoo