Here comes another celebration on 1st May. We are encouraged to reflect on the history of the working class. We want decent work, a fairer society and a more equal economy, that enable us to live in dignity.
We carry out this struggle on a daily basis, whether the sun is shining or the rain is pouring. We finish late in the evening and start early in the morning, to work or to look for a job. Through this action to support oneself or a family, we realise that we are not alone. There are dozens, hundreds, thousands, millions of people who, like us, after drinking a coffee or a glass of water, struggle for a fair salary, so that all workers’ dignity is respected in this world with so many inequalities. One cannot but wonder: why VERY FEW people have a lot whereas MANY have so little, my God, isn’t the wealth of this planet intended to all!
During the 50 years of our Christian Workers Movement, we managed to fully live the mission that Jesus Christ gave us. It is not an easy task, but it is possible. We are fighters! We were born to fight for workers’ survival and we want to remain firm in this struggle, in our training work towards a common and collective action within the working class, in light of the Gospel. The method we chose is the “SEE, JUDGE, ACT”, linked to the reflexion on the four pillars of society: politics, social matters, economics and Ideology. This is how we want to carry out our struggle, interacting and intervening in our reality, in the workplace and in the daily lives of those male and female workers.
And, as WMCW, we are aware that each one of us can suffer from unemployment, from economic, political and social crises. We might even lose our self-esteem. But this should not break our strengths, our dreams, this life given out of love. We know that God’s love for each human being is transmitted through all those who struggle for human dignity. We are also aware of the fact that, despite the fatigue affecting people, despite how ferocious the system is, hurting us, we can only continue to believe that things will get better. We should always believe that we are called upon to be winners, despite many defeats impossible to forget: WE ARE NOT ALONE, WE ARE MANY and we shall continue fighting for work, food, housing, education, health, respect, dignity and many other things. And above all, WE SHALL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR LIFE!
How many of our comrades, men and women from the working world, have committed suicide, or died due to terrible working conditions, or lost their job when machines arrived? How many of them have suffered illnesses such as depression, and many others? This is why we seek refuge in our families, friends, and even in other countries. We do not only look for some space, a hug or some help. What we want above all is our dignity to be respected and our place within society to be recognised. Any discrimination is unacceptable and we must fight against any type of oppression. The World is our Common Home, it is everyone’s home, designed for all. It is where we earn a living, we raise our children, we visit our parents, we live with our friends, we praise God and we work day after day for our survival.
Life is work and work is life. In those daily struggles, perseverance leads us, as WMCW, to reflect, and motivates us to be creative, tireless workers, faithful to the Working Class, fighting for our rights. Despite the bitterness of defeat in our daily lives, we are always confident, full of hope and determined in our struggles, especially for a fairer and more equal society.
Our journey continues, companions, against any system that oppresses and refuses to recognise and respect the rights of male and female workers.
WORLD MOVEMENT OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS
