SHRO-Reports

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKERS" MOVEMENT IN THE SUDAN (1946-1996)
BY MAHGOUB SID AHMED

In 1996, SHRO-Cairo published a unique book on the Human Rights and the Development of Workers' Movement in The Sudan (1946-1996) by the famous Sudanese trades unionist, Ustaz Mahgoub Sid Ahmed, the Assistant Secretary General for Foreign Relations of the Sudan Workers' Trades Unions Federation (in exile).

The book was compiled by Ustaz Ali Mahgoub, SHRO-Cairo executive-administrator, through a strenuous pursuit of Sid Ahmed's memories. The work was further translated by Mahgoub El-Tigani and is now in print.

COVER PAGE
Mahgoub Sid Ahmed

"The workers trades’ unionist movement was closely linked with popular organizations in the striving for the achievement of national liberation from colonialism in the pre-independence era. Equally important, their movement collaborated with the organizations that struggled for the economic and political independence of the Sudan through the assurance of democratic rule, social welfare, and human rights for the citizenry. The relationships of the workers were strongly correlated with the farmers' movement all over the country, as well as the movement of the youth, women, and students.

"The labor unionist movement acquired rich experiences via the honest and original work it had been committed to pursue, independently from the Authority ... The ethics, principles, and democratic traditions the workers' movement implanted among popular organizations in the Sudanese nationalist life, in addition to the solidarity gained in the regional and international arenas, characterized major features of the labor movement of the country.

"The virtue of committing labor unions to all these principles and good traditions made of the unions a broad base for the accommodation of all workers, regardless of color, sex, religious faith, political and/or ideological belonging. The unions have been primarily founded on the basis of non-discrimination and the observance of human rights.

"The labor unions recruited workers from all parts of the Sudan, north, south, west, and east. A strong unionist movement was even established in Southern Sudan that had been plagued by slavery, war, and economic backwardness for a long time."

FORWARD
Mahgoub El-Tigani
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Sudanese workers' trades unionist movement marched a long way since the early 1920's when many workers, including the workers of private schemes in addition to the other workers and employees of the colonial civil service raised strong demands to improve wages and working conditions to no avail.

The workers' demands, nevertheless, continued over time even after the scheme had been abandoned. From the late 1940's throughout the early 50's, the workers movement manifested its determination to achieve labor objectives on the basis of the Memorandum of the Workers' Conference to Sudan Government that had been submitted for negotiation about labor claims with the Administrative Secretary of the British Governor General of the pre-independent Sudan.

Using strike and a firm commitment to the aims and leadership of the movement, the Sudanese workers motivated the government to negotiate with them a labor agreement. Thus, the workers' trades unions started off the long-standing traditions of democratic life in the country that have progressively prepared the ground for the other Sudanese democratic forces to promote political relations with succeeding governments. The unions emphasized the need to consider them as an equal partner with government concerning labor relations. These principles have been closely observed by unions for 50 years or more despite the instability of governments and regimes of Sudan and the tyrannous policies and practices that have unnecessarily hurt the workers and their democratic movement.

The unions carried with them since their early inception characteristics of the Sudanese People, especially those connected with good cooperation, resistance to injustice, courageous stands in confrontation with ruling parties and insistence on freedoms of assembly and expression. The unions added to this noble heritage respectable merits through the wisdom and constancy of the unions’ leaders. They have been equally impacted by the regional and international labor movement with respect to labor legal norms and the human rights of workers. With these modern abilities, the unions continued to negotiate with employers in the public and/or private sectors.

A knowledgeable and most experienced school of thought and action has been formed by the unions on the basis of international law, as well as the Sudanese domestic values that stress the enjoyment of human rights and civil freedoms for all citizens. No authority in Sudan was able to force the unions to abandon their essential demands to ensure labor progression and democratic freedoms for workers of the Sudan.

In studying the development of unions and the contributions thus far achieved in the trades unionist and political life of the country, one has no doubt that these significant efforts have tremendously inspired generations of young, political and/or military groups with t he impetus to struggle for the realization of fundamental freedoms and civil and political rights. There is no doubt that Sudanese labor unions accomplished a great task for the cause of Sudan through the solidarity they have graciously acquired for the People of Sudan from labor organizations all over the world. The unions raised highly the banner of democracy in the Sudan. They have certainly helped to integrate the county into modern labor markets. Still, the Sudanese unions pursue a long-standing struggle with t he other regional and international labor unions toward a peaceful and constructive international community of progressive labor.

The documentation of these shining facts about the Sudanese workers' trades unionist movement is eloquently displayed through the honest memories of a distinguished leader of the movement, Mahgoub Sid Aimed, the Assistant Secretary General of the Sudanese Workers' Trades Union Federation (SWTUF) - the legitimate federation that has been unlawfully banned by the military coup of the National Islamic Front (NIF) since June 30, 1989.

The SWTUF has always drawn heavily upon worker general assemblies to perform their genuine activities. The Federation has consistently continued to exist in spite of all attempts by non-democratic regimes or authoritarian governments to control labor unions. The SWTUF has been subjected to gross human rights violations, including extra-judicial killing, torture, confiscation of property, dismissal and imprisonment of trades unionists, banning of union activities, etc. Seen in the light of SWTUF brave resistance to all these activities, the SWTUF proved to be a strong fighter for the freedoms and civil rights of all Sudanese People, indiscriminately in addition to SWTUF successful observance of the unity of the other labor unions through the realization of good cooperation.

Mahgoub Sid Aimed writes: "The workers' trades unionist movement was closely linked with the popular organizations in the striving or the achievement of national liberation in the pre-independence era. Equally important, the movement collaborated with the organizations that struggled for the accomplishment of economic and political independence of the Sudan through the assurance of democratic rule, social welfare, and human rights of the citizenry. The relationships of workers were strongly interrelated with the farmers’ movement in the country, a well as the movement of women, the youth and students. The history of modern Sudan documents the collaboration of Sudanese workers with the other organizations in important nationalist issues and historical events."

It was with the workers' movement that the Sudanese People fought against dictatorships and had them massively overthrown. The noble sacrifices of the Sudanese workers, including many killed or gravely victimized, will always stand as a national pride for the People of Sudan. The Sudanese trades unions will continue to act as a viable national body capable of prohibiting any discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, political opinion, etc.

The reader would find in the memories of Mahgoub Sid Aimed who has been living all the bitterness f labor injustices since the early days of Sudanese modern trades unions movement up to this moment for even in exile after he had been released from prisons of the NIF ruling regime, a true account of the great unionist mission of Sudanese workers and the cause for which that movement dedicated its far-reaching effort for the advancement of freedoms and human rights in the Sudan. Deep into the depths of Sudanese popular consciousness about labor rights, the reader would feel the affectionate solidarity of regional and international organizations with workers of Sudan. These bright pages will ever continue to guide nationalist leaders and trades unionists to strengthen their creative efforts for a healthy democratic nation building of the country.

One of the most important lessons embodied in the memoirs of Mahgoub Sid Aimed pertains to the performance of the succeeding governments of Sudan concerning labor unions. It is true that dictatorial regimes, especially the NIF terrorist rule, committed a great harm to the labor movement through the escalation of hostilities against unions, including the corrupted use of legislation to preempt union rights. Notwithstanding, Mahgoub Sid Aimed ascertains the fact that inasmuch as his own experience is concerned, transitional governments as well as democratically-elected governments have often committed serious violations against unions.

Mahgoub Sid Aimed points out, in particular, a phenomenon of strike-phobia although strikes constitute a basic tool to assert union integrity and independence in compliance with international law. For example, Article 1 of the Convention (No. 105) Concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, adopted by the International Labour Organization (1957) reads: "Each member of the International Labour Organization which ratifies this Convention undertakes to suppress and not to make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour." The Article prohibits "punishment for having participated in strikes." Also, Article (8) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights stipulates that "(d) The right to strike, provided that it is exercised in conformity with the laws of the particular country" should be ensured. Understandably, domestic laws should not impair the inherent right of all People to enjoy and utilize fully and freely their natural wealth and resources" as is clearly stated in Article 47 of the Convention.

Towards this meaningful end, Mahgoub Sid Aimed underwrites his honorable documentation of the perpetuated labor struggles of the Sudan: "Although the penalty of strike was a death penalty ... the workers were not afraid f that fate. They were determined to exercise their legitimate right to strike. They challenged the shaky regime with a unique steadfastness."

That was witnessed during the dictatorial rule of the May regime (1969-1985). It equally holds true with respect to the existing NIF terrorist rule that put trades unionists on trial because they asked the leader f the NIF coup to respect public freedoms.

Sid Aimed criticizes at the same time "The escalation of political and economic problems, the deliberate extermination of workers' participation in governance, the withdrawal from labor agreements with workers, the increasing conflicts with government authorities over labor rights, etc."

The Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo Branch stands firmly in solidarity with all rights and freedoms of worker and professional trades unions, as well as the other sectors of the working force, peasants or Bedouins. The Organization affirms the need to have Sudan Government fully committed to all international and regional labor agreements. It is a great concern for us in the Cairo Branch of the Sudan Human Rights Organization to call upon the Authority to respect human rights of the Sudanese People.

We point out, in particular, the significance of observing international law, especially the International Bill of Human Rights that recognizes the inherent dignity and the rights of all members of the human family to have the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the right to hold opinions without interference, the right to freedom of association with others (including the right to form and enjoy trade unions for the protection of their interests), to take part in the conduct of public affairs directly or through freely chosen representatives by secret ballot, the right to work with just and favorable remuneration plus social security benefits, the right to rest and leisure, the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of individuals and families, the rights of motherhood and childhood, the right to participate in the cultural life of the community to protect the moral life and material arts, and to enjoy the existence and progress of an international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in international law can be fully realized.

Related to the introduction of Mahgoub Sid Aimed, our Organization wishes to commemorate the glorious leaders of the Sudanese workers' trades unionists movement, chief of whom are Al-Shafi' Aimed Al-Shaikh and Ibrahim Zakariah.

We remember with a great affection the struggles of Abdel-Atti Al-Shayqqi, Ieed Saeed Bayin, Juma' Khair Al-Seed, Omer Bakheit, and Merghani Abdel-Galil whom the writer of this introduction witnessed - among many other labor activists - as prisoners of anti-democratic regimes or at nationalist conferences emphasizing the realization and observance of labor rights, irrespective of tyrannous policies or authoritarian practices against trades unionists.

Side-by-side with this male-dominated trades unionist movement, the Sudanese women's trades unionist movement has been led by the pioneers of the women's worker and professional groups: Mindamat Al-Gaili, Khalda Zahir, Fatima Talib, Fatima Aimed Ibrahim, Had Al-Raid Al-Mahi, and the other women who continued generation after generation to struggle for the realization of human rights and freedoms in the country.

Finally, SHRO-Cairo renews its strong support to the workers of the Sudan with whom the Organization has been honored to collaborate actively in programs directed to enforce human rights and democracy in Sudan. SHRO-Cairo has increasingly cooperated with the Secretariat of the SWTUF in Egypt (in exile). The Secretariat includes Abdel-Wahanb Abdel-Ghani, who was elected SHRO-Cairo Deputy President in 1991/1993, and Mohamed Hag Al-Amin, Member of the Secretariat who lectured at the SHRO-Cairo Educational Workshops on labor rights, and Mahgoub Sid Aimed who has been generously participating in SHRO-Cairo activities by lecturing and enlightening different audiences about Sudanese workers' democratic movement and unions struggle.

It is a great pleasure to appreciate the good efforts SHRO-Cairo membership exerted in the preparation of this important book, especially Ali Mahgoub Ali, SHRO-Cairo Executive -Administrator who supervised over the data collection of the book and had them carefully typed for the writer to edit and translate.

We all hope that the meaningful message the struggles of Sudanese workers' trades unionist movement have been bearing for the civil rights and democratic freedoms of Sudanese people would be fairly emulated by the succeeding generations and widely disseminated all over the world.

SHRO-CAIRO PUBLICATION/1996/CAIRO/EGYPT//