Mohamed Alli: Embracing Filipino struggles and culture

by Levy Abad

According to some pioneers, Mohamed Alli is a long-time trade unionist and a pioneer member of the Knights of Rizal, an organization inspired by the ideas of the national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal. Sir “Mho” has been grafted into the community since he is proudly married to a Filipina. Below is the gist of my interview with him.

Arrival in Winnipeg

Bro. Mho shared, “I arrived in Winnipeg in October of 1972 from Guyana and started working as a building maintenance engineer – a fancy name for a janitor. I worked in that trade until 2015 on a full-time and part-time basis. From 1972-73, I had 16 employees working under me. In 1973, I started working at a warehouse in Fort Gary – MacLeods Gamble, at Gamble Place. I retired in 2013, after working for 40 years in different capacities.”

t was here in the early 80s that Bro. Mho started union organizing.

Relevance of a working-class party

Bro. Mho commented, “During the 70s and 80s, a political party became most relevant as the working class was mistreated and the government was making promises and not keeping them. When the Schreyer NDP government won, they delivered on some of their promises, like changes in labour policies. The NDP government tried giving labour unions what they asked for, including improvements in health and safety, healthcare, housing and jobs.” Knowing the nature of social legislation and the importance of the workers’ movements in fighting for its realization, it is understandable that some of these gains are at times reversed when an anti-worker political party comes into power. That is why organized strength is crucial.

Importance of labour unions

“Unions are very important for the working class since they organise them as a bargaining unit vis-a-vis the company. Any workplace without a union always makes less on wages and benefits and is treated differently. When a union is organized in a workplace, the employees become consolidated, thus expressing their demands with one voice. In retrospect, I brought the union into my workplace in the early 80s as an association, which later became a formal union until the company closed. The labour union is the greatest movement for the working class.”

How did the Workers of Colour Committee come about?

Bro. Mho explained “During the setting up of the WOC committee, we had several workers from the CAW locals, i.e. Bob Luna, Leo Alonzo, myself, Lance Brenna from the Black community and Louis Ifill from the Jamaican community. This was done in collaboration with the national CAW representative, Brother (Senator) Hassan Yussuf. Later, the Workers of Colour Committee evolved into AWOC – Aboriginal & Workers of Colour Caucus and eventually BIWOC- Black, Indigenous and Workers of Colour Caucus. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) started this, and it trickled down to all affiliates, including the Federation of Labour and Labour Councils in each provincial jurisdiction.”

It is interesting to note that the Workers of Colour Committee to which Bro. Mho was a pioneer, together with his CAW brother, Bob Luna, would be instrumental in the Filipino community’s struggle against racism and discrimination. This led to the education and mobilization in the community back in the mid-80s, 90s, and up to the present.

Connection with the Filipino community

Bro. Mho fondly recalled, “My connection with the Filipino community happened when I met my wife Erlinda Maddela in 1973 and eventually got married in October 1974. We are blessed with two boys, a girl, and two granddaughters. We are hoping for another 50 years if the good Lord graces us with more happy life. I had no blood family, so the Filipino community became my family.”

After more than five decades in Winnipeg, Bro. Mho has become involved in the community as a family man, a unionist, and a community leader as part of the Knights of Rizal. Up to the present, he is serving as an officer of the Knights of Rizal and is still active in labour conferences and rallies, whether fighting for the existing policies that serve the workers or marching for substantial reforms. The community may forget the likes of him who expects nothing in return. As for me, this article is my tribute to his contributions and for embracing the struggles of the working class in general and the Filipino community of Winnipeg.

Levy Abad authored a book titled Rhythms and Resistance: Narrative of Filipino Musicians and Activists (1972-1994). Levy is also a singer-songwriter, poet, and migrant rights activist who has released four albums centred on the life and struggles of migrants.