In the 1930s, the workers? right to respect mobilised Dr Maurice Curé and Guy Rozemont, who were to found the oldest political party of the country, the Labour party. Since 1938, those trade unionists-come-politicians have on 1st May held a traditional rally with workers to celebrate the achievements of their struggle. The Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM), born later from the same preoccupation with better conditions for workers, was to adopt the same principle. The tradition continues today, except that the speeches are no longer the same.

Rare will be those who will mention ?workers? struggle? on the political platforms next Saturday. The stake is different: the 1st May is now a show of force for political parties. Not only have politicians outshone trade unionists on May Day, but Labour Day has become the ?crowd struggle.? The proof: ten days before the real gathering, each bloc has started rallying its own crowd. There were political meetings all around the island practically every day last week.

Competition is the keyword

The MSM-MMM alliance has been the more active. May Day has become a particular stake for the government since it lost the by-election in Piton-Rivière-du-Rempart last December. It is under pressure as the number of people it rallies will give an indication of its popularity. The temperature might be getting higher for the government. If the Labour party started its ?mobilisation? later, it may be because it is more confident. But is it right to be so? Maybe not? Every MSM-MMM meeting is attended by 500 to 1000 persons, considered large numbers by local observers.

During these pre-meetings, the keyword is competition as to who will outshine the other. The parties bank on the current scandals to provide amunition against their adversaries. They take stock of their own achievements or stress on their opponents? non-achievements. The Labour party is clamouring for an early poll in view of ?the growing corruption and the monopoly of the economy by a few families.? Deputy prime minister, Pravind Jugnauth, has declared that the previous government (Labour Party) is a thing of the past. He has accused the opposition of being ?demagogic? and leading a ?communal campaign.?

The May Day gatherings promise to be feverish especially since the tension on the political scene is high. The MSM congress, held the Sunday before last, may account for this, local observers say. The leader has strongly denied all the rumours that the MSM was flirting with Labour. Pravind Jugnauth has made it clear to those who might have been scheming behind his back that he is the one holding the party?s reins. Whether for the sake of his own ambition or not, he has decided that the MSM will remain the MMM?s partner for the time being and even longer. Labour does not seem to appreciate this hard line. This could be the explanation for the squabbles in Parliament last Tuesday. MPs Ajay Gunness (MMM) and Arvin Boolell (Labour) hurled insults at each other.

Mauritians are less interested in the speeches of the politicians than in the question of which party will draw the biggest crowd. Will it be Rose Hill, the ?historical meeting? announced by the prime minister in his own constituency, or Quatre-Bornes, where the Labour party will launch its campaign for the general elections due next year.

The involvement of trade unions

May Day takes after the tradition of the European workers? struggle. Today, it is a public holiday in most countries. In UK the public holiday is on the first Monday of May to allow each paid employee a long weekend. Although Mauritians enjoy the public holiday, the latter is nevertheless not used to reflect over workers? conditions or rights. The politicians will once more be in the limelight. Trade unions are nevertheless concerned and organise meetings on that day. The Federation of Progressive Unions, for instance, is holding a meeting at their headquarters in Rose-Hill at 8.30 am on Saturday. They will walk to Belle-Rose to join two other federations, the National Trade Union Congress and the Mauritius Labour Congress at River View hotel. By 10.00 am they will all proceed to the Plaza. ?In general, Labour Day is a special day, which belongs to the workers of our country. We are all the descendants of those valiant labourers who fought for their social, political and economic rights,? write Dr Satteeanund and Satyendra Peerthum in an article to be published at the end of the week in l?express.