EDITORIAL : THE DAILY MIRROR, SRILANKA

May Day: Some meditation for workers

The heights reached by great people, not only reached but reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight; but they while their colleagues slept were toiling upward in the night. The symbolism and the heights referred to in these words of wisdom by a poet are not the personal gain or glory, power popularity or prestige that party politicians especially desire, but high principles of living and noble values like selfless sacrificial service to people.
For May Day tomorrow it might be wise for workers to allow a paradigm shift or change of perception to take place and meditate more on their responsibilities than on their rights because the reality is that for most political leaders, workers rights are more like rites. It is an everlasting and undeniable truth that rights are linked to responsibilities. To the extent we fulfil our responsibility to that extent we are entitled to our rights and our needs will be met. The opposite is also true. To the extent we fail in our responsibilities, to that extent we forfeit our rights. Focusing on our responsibilities, workers on this May Day weekend need to reflect on how committed dedicated and honest we are in whatever work we do. Competence and commitment are both vital. Without one or the other the worker will be half baked or half hearted and of little use to himself, herself or to others. Whatever we do, we need to do it well giving our heart and mind to it, then there will be fulfillment for the worker and the expectation of the employer will also be fulfilled. In sincerely doing the duty that we are called upon to do, we need to keep in mind some noble values to reach this goal. As Kipling said in his famous poem, we need to keep our heads above our shoulders while others are losing theirs and blaming it on us. Acting sincerely according to our conscience in the work we do, we need to trust ourselves when others doubt us and more importantly make allowance for their doubting too.
More wisdom for sincere and sacrificial work comes from poets like Robert Lewis Stephenson who tell us that in addition to patience we need perseverance. We need to drive the nail aright and hit it on the head. We need to strike it with all our might while the iron is red. When we have work to do, we need to do it with a will for those who reach the top must first climb the hill. Though we stumble often we need not be downcast because when we try and try again, we will win at last.
As for the party political leaders and the employers big or small, they need to be aware of the fate that befalls those who use, abuse or manipulate workers as tools to achieve their selfish objectives. Party political leaders and employers who underpay and ill treat workers need to be aware that their self-centerdness, selfishness and overpowering desire for self-interest will eventually land them in one hell of a mess.