All Burma Trade Union Congress
Encyclopedia
The All Burma Trade Union Congress was a central trade union
organisation in Burma. ABTUC was founded on January 30, 1940. ABTUC had its origins in the All Burma Labour Conference, which had been assembled by the Thakins
in July 1939. In August 1940 ABTUC publicly stated the goals of the organisation; racial and gender equality, social welfare, minimum wage, standardisation of working hours, better working conditions and establishing a socialist state with socialisation of production, distribution and exchange. Ba Swe was the main figure behind the ABTUC in its early stage.
ABTUC suspended its activities when Japan
occupied Burma.
ABTUC was re-constituted on June 1, 1945, with Thakin Ba Hein (a prominent leader of the Communist Party of Burma
) as its president. At this point, ABTUC counted with fourteen affiliated trade unions with a combined membership of 11,500. On July 9, 1945 ABTUC requested affiliation to the World Federation of Trade Unions
. After the death of Thakin Ba Hein in 1946, the leadership of ABTUC was taken over by H. N. Goshal
.
In November 1945 socialists
set up the Trade Union Congress (Burma)
to counter the influence of the ABTUC.
In July and September 1946 the ABTUC, under the leadership of Thakin Than Tun
, organised a series of strikes against the "repressive measures" of the AFPFL government. In September, ABTUC organised a general strike. Employees in all government department took part in the general strike. Apart for calling for democratic rights, the general strike also expressed anti-imperialist positions and calls for solidarity with the struggles of the peasantry.
In March 1948, ABTUC mobilised a general strike amongst the workers of British-owned industries, refineries, workshops, dockyards, etc. Military forces were mobilised to crush the strike. Striking workers were attacked, and over 100 persons were injured. Soon after this incident, the Communist Party of Burma initiated its campaign of armed struggle. In the wake of the crack-down on the Communist Party of Burma, ABTUC was banned.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
organisation in Burma. ABTUC was founded on January 30, 1940. ABTUC had its origins in the All Burma Labour Conference, which had been assembled by the Thakins
Thakins
The Thakins were a Burmese nationalist group formed around the 1930s and composed of young, disgruntled intellectuals. Drawing their name from the way in which the British were addressed during colonial times, thakin means "lord" or "master", just as the Indians called the British "sahib"...
in July 1939. In August 1940 ABTUC publicly stated the goals of the organisation; racial and gender equality, social welfare, minimum wage, standardisation of working hours, better working conditions and establishing a socialist state with socialisation of production, distribution and exchange. Ba Swe was the main figure behind the ABTUC in its early stage.
ABTUC suspended its activities when Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
occupied Burma.
ABTUC was re-constituted on June 1, 1945, with Thakin Ba Hein (a prominent leader of the Communist Party of Burma
Communist Party of Burma
The Communist Party of Burma is the oldest existing political party in Burma. The party is unrecognised by the Burmese authorities, rendering it illegal; so it operates in a clandestine manner, often associating with insurgent armies along the border of People's Republic of China...
) as its president. At this point, ABTUC counted with fourteen affiliated trade unions with a combined membership of 11,500. On July 9, 1945 ABTUC requested affiliation to the World Federation of Trade Unions
World Federation of Trade Unions
The World Federation of Trade Unions was established in 1945 to replace the International Federation of Trade Unions. Its mission was to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international organization, much like the United Nations...
. After the death of Thakin Ba Hein in 1946, the leadership of ABTUC was taken over by H. N. Goshal
H. N. Goshal
H. N. Goshal was a communist politician and trade union leader in Burma, of Bengali origin. Goshal was one of the foremost leaders of the Communist Party of Burma and the most prominent theoretician of the party for several years...
.
In November 1945 socialists
Burma Socialist Party
The Burma Socialist Party, initially known as the People's Freedom Party was a political party in Burma. BSP was the dominant party in Burmese politics after 1948. It was the dominant political force inside the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League.The party was founded in September 1945. It was a...
set up the Trade Union Congress (Burma)
Trade Union Congress (Burma)
The Trade Union Congress was a central trade union organization in Burma. The TUC was founded by the Socialist Party in November 1945, in an attempt to counter the influence of the communist-led All Burma Trade Union Congress. Ba Cho was the President of TUC...
to counter the influence of the ABTUC.
In July and September 1946 the ABTUC, under the leadership of Thakin Than Tun
Thakin Than Tun
Thakin Than Tun born in Kanyutkwin, Myanmar, was a Burmese politician and leader of the Communist Party of Burma from 1945 until his death at age 57.-Struggle for freedom:...
, organised a series of strikes against the "repressive measures" of the AFPFL government. In September, ABTUC organised a general strike. Employees in all government department took part in the general strike. Apart for calling for democratic rights, the general strike also expressed anti-imperialist positions and calls for solidarity with the struggles of the peasantry.
In March 1948, ABTUC mobilised a general strike amongst the workers of British-owned industries, refineries, workshops, dockyards, etc. Military forces were mobilised to crush the strike. Striking workers were attacked, and over 100 persons were injured. Soon after this incident, the Communist Party of Burma initiated its campaign of armed struggle. In the wake of the crack-down on the Communist Party of Burma, ABTUC was banned.