On this 30th May, CITU has completed 40 years of its existence – a period of glorious struggler for unity of the working class and creditable achievements. Anyone, who has been associated with the work of CITU during this period can surely be proud of the great sacrifices made by the members, cadres and leaders of CITU in defence of the rights of not only the working class of India but also in defence of the unity and integrity of this country. CITU has also been in the forefront of upholding the banner of proletarian internationalism from the very platform of its foundation conference.THE BACKGROUND
Looking back, any participant in the All India Trade Union Conference held in Kolkata from 28th May, 1970 to 31st May, 2010 will always cherish to remember the proceedings, decisions, mobilisations in connection with this conference. It was in this conference, on 30th May, the historic decision to form a new Central Trade Union was unanimously taken. The decision to hold this All India Conference was not a sudden decision taken by a few individuals. It is there in the pages of history now, that there was a serious and continuous struggle within AITUC, from the early 1960s, on various important issues facing the working people of the country - from the primary issues of wages, dearness allowance and bonus to the ideological and political issues including the approach to the Govt.
It was in this period that dominant leadership of AITUC advocated various new slogans including the two pillar policy and rationalisation without tears. The leadership of AITUC, in those days, blindly supported several actions of the Govt. and even employers, whether in the tripartite bodies or on the conciliation tables. This was happening at a time, when “the working class has been facing continuously ferocious attacks from the employers and Government. Despite increases in total production and productivity their usual wages has been continuously falling.” (Report of Com. P.R).
The Indian economic crisis was deepening and the attack on the workers was continuing. There were struggles all over the country, covering almost all sectors of Indian economy. At the national level, the ruling Congress was getting more and more isolated in the massive and militant struggles by various sections of people against price rise, shortage of food items etc. An intense debate was going on among the political platforms regarding altitude towards the Congress.
Developments in various states led to a situation where Congress got defeated in 8 states in the 1967 general elections. With the formation of 2 Left led Governments in West Bengal and Kerala and non Congress Government led by various grouping including far right parties like Jansangh, Swatantra parties and also regional parties like DMK in Tamilnadu, there were expectations among various sections of people including working class. The difference in approach of the various State Governments. came to the fore at the time of the 1968 September struggle of the Central Government employees. While the Central Government declared a war against its own employees and there were bloodbaths in the capital and other areas, the Left Governments took a strong pro employee position and refused to succumb to the pressure of Government of India.
With the openly declared pro people policies of West Bengal and Kerala Govts. there was a surge in the struggles in those states both by the workers and the rural working people. It should also be noted that both these Govts. declared openly that police forces should not be allowed to intervene in the struggles, as was the practice earlier. While in these states, workers could get a helping hand from the Govt. to intervene in their struggles, much to the chagrin of the employers and anti worker political parties, in other states repression was let loose on workers who were on struggle. Tamilnadu was one such state, where the Govt. of a regional political party which came to power with the support from the toiling masses and which also declared that they ‘wanted to see God, in the smiling faces of poor’ coming down on struggling workers with an iron hand.
Most unfortunately, the leadership of AITUC at this point of time was not prepared to be in the forefront of struggles that were developing all over the country. The leadership had given up class struggle and was upholding the banner of class collaboration.It was against these wrong policies that a section of the leadership both at the National and State levels raised their voice, demanded changes, pressed for democratic functioning of the organisation etc.
The efforts made by the so called minority group of ‘leftists’ to correct the line of the dominant leadership is part of the History. Starting from the 1966 Mumbai Conference of AITUC, series of efforts were made and various proposals were put forth. But even the resolutions for unified functioning adopted by the conferences were ignored.
It was under these circumstances that a meeting of 150 leading Trade Union functionanaries – members of the Working Committee and Central Council and of the State Executive and Councils of AITUC, was held in Goa on 8th and 9th of April, 1970. This meeting of leaders, who were leaders of various unions which had conducted militant struggles and had helped building up the movement, decided that it was no more possible to work within AITUC, and decided to convene an All India Trade Union Conference and to recommend the formation of a new national Trade Union centre.
LENIN NAGAR CONFERENCE
The venue of the All India Conference which began with the hoisting of flag by Com. Krishna Pada Ghosh, a senior leader of the working class movement in West Bengal, was named as Lenin Nagar, as it was the birth centenary year of Com. Lenin. Com. Jyoti Basu, who was the Chairman of the Reception Committee, in his welcome address, detailed the importance of this Conference. He said “considering the multiplicity of Trade Union centres already existing in India the setting up of another centre may seem to be a divisive act. But, on the contrary, such a centre has now become a historical necessity as a rallying organisation for the militant working class of India. The AITUC which we all helped to build up with hard work and great sacrifices of our ordinary comrades has been transformed into an instrument of surrender to the bourgeoise and a drag on determined militant struggles, by the revisionists who have seized its leadership and made it their special preserve by undemocratic methods of functioning and keeping out representative unions over which they have no control.”
Stressing the national and international tasks of the working class of India, he stressed the ‘need for a real democratic and revolutionary trade union centre which will lead the working class into militant economic struggles and simultaneously politicise them and prepare them for the struggle for power and rally them in support of the anti-imperialist struggles in all parts of the world.”
FORWARD TO UNITY AND STRUGGLE
The report to the Conference, presented by Com. P. Ramamurti explained in detail the efforts taken by the organisers of this Conference to ensure proper functioning of AITUC. The report gave details about the militant and successful struggles conducted in this period in various parts of the country and the leading role played by the West Bengal Unions as also Kerala, Tamilnadu and other states. Com. P.R. also explained the pro-people, pro workers initiatives undertaken by the left-Govts., which had been toppled by the union. The conference was being held amid severe repression let loose in both these states.
He also outlined the importance of ideological clarity for the Trade Unions. The report rated – “Socialism is the declared aim of the Trade Union movement. We can not go forward towards our goal if the Trade Union movement forgets that its main struggle is against social system – the role of landlords and capitalists. It must direct its fire against the imperialists and chiefly the American imperialists who are trying to enslave our people and impose on them neo-colonial slavery, against the monopolists and landlords who control the main levers of production. The daily struggles of the working class are a part of this general struggle.” In addition to this he underlined the importance of solidarity in the other sections of toiling people, especially the toiling peasantry and agricultural labourers. He also noted the successful efforts taken by the unions, which were participating in the conference, for building up united struggles. He called upon the unions that "such building of unity from below must be intensified hundred fold.” Dwelling at length on the wrong tendencies like bureaucratism, that had crept in some unions represented in the Conference, he exhorted to firmly combat the bureaucratic tendencies and widen the democratic functioning. He noted – “Trade Union democracy does not consist in holding annual elections and in holding periodical meetings of executive committees. We have to draw in every worker, in the running of the union, in shaping of policies, in taking decisions and in implementing them.”
He also reiterated the proposals, he had submitted to the AITUC leadership to unify the unions. These proposals included holding of elections by the joint membership of the existing unions on the basis of proportional representation, democratic functioning of unions and also approval of the executive committee and annual body and matters connected with all workers. On the whole, the report presented by Com. P.R. was not only explaining the situation in trade union movement and in the country, but also a guiding document to the future functioning of the new Trade Union Centre.
A NEW TRADE UNION CENTRE
It was after an elaborate discussion that the resolution on the formation of the new organisation was put before the conference.
Even on the name to be given to the new organisation, there were serious discussions and various suggestions. Finally the new organisation was born – the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, CITU. There were thunderous shouting of slogans CITU Jindabad, workers unity Jindabad and the workers of the world unite.
The resolution was moved by Com. Monoranjan Roy and seconded by Com. E.Balanandan.
THE TASK AHEAD
In his concluding address Com. B.T.Ranadive, the newly elected President, gave further directions on the tasks ahead. Reminding about the angle, enthusiasm and expectations expressed all through the discussions he exhorted the delegates and leaders to work for ensuing the unity of the working class, with the clearest understanding of upholding class struggles and its supremacy. He underlined the necessity of change in the style of functioning of our unions, ensuring democratic functioning.
Com. BTR said – “We are starting a new organisation with with a new line. We wish to give new orientation to the Trade Union movement. But, for that all leaders of the Trade Union movement, every one of us must change his own consciousness; must be determined to give up the old consciousness and the old practice; then alone will we be able to carry in concrete terms a correct struggle against reformist line of all others.”
He also reminded the delegates – “Some people might concentrate their fire on revisionists and forget the main enemies. This will be inexcusable……. we fight reformism, we fight revisionism, we fight every such tendency, early because our common class struggle against one main enemy is hampered.” Com. BTR further elaborated the necessity of strengthening unity by saying – “This is the time, when working class demands unity, this is the time when working class on its own thinks that unless it is united, the offensive can not be met. This is the time when our organisation must jump into the fray and tell every one, here is the banner of unity, of common action , joint action.”
THE LAST FORTY-YEARS
With the message of class unity and class struggle and banner of united movement, CITU has marched ahead. From a membership of 8,04,657 CITU has grown into an organisation of 51,45,387.
This we all understand is not at all enough and we have miles to go. But, the issues that were raised in the foundation conference were taken seriously by the organisation; despite many organisational weaknesses, which CITU has identified and is in the process of rectifying, CITU had advanced not only in its membership but also on various other tasks like taking up the issues of unorganised workers, women workers, public sector, united movements, solidarity with struggles at national and international levels.
These forty years have been years of sacrifice, advance and achievements. The unity of Central Trade Unions on issues of national importance which we have been able to achieve during the last few months have to be consolidated at the grass root level, so that the struggle is further carried forward.
The 13th conference of CITU at Chandigarh has cut out our task ahead and in the coming days, we will do all that has to be done, to attain the goals,defined by our foundation Conference.
Courtesy: www.citucentre.org
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