INDUSTRY WISE STRIKE

Industry

Massive Strike of Central Government Employees

Overwhelming majority of 10 lakhs central government employees resorted to a day’s massive strike on 12 December responding to the call of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers paralyzing governmental functioning in various departments throughout the country.

Reports indicate total strike in Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand; 80 percent and above in Maharashtra, Karnataka, U.P. and Bihar; and about 60 percent in other states. Postal, income tax, groundwater board departments came to a grinding halt in all states and the offices remained closed. In income tax department even promotee officers joined the strike resulting in complete closure. Many establishments of atomic energy, printing and stationery, defence accounts, medical depots, audit and accounts, civil accounts, CGHS, Indian Bureau of Mines, Directorate of Marketing Inspection, Geological Survey of India, Archaeological and Botanical Survey of India etc. remained closed.

The strike was against PFRDA Bill intending to convert government employees’ existing defined benefit of pension to contributory pension scheme. The strike demands also included setting up the 7th Central Pay Commission for wage revision; filling up large number of vacant posts; regularization of the service of Grameen Dak Sewaks / casual / daily-rated workers; revival of the negotiating machinery, JCM; removal of restrictions on compassionate appointments; introduction of public distribution system; stoppage of outsourcing, contractorisation, privatization etc.

Through this strike, the central government employees have also asserted to make workers’ general strike on 20-21 February a grand success. The Confederation is also preparing for an indefinite strike in pursuance of the 15 point charter of demands in 2013.

Medical and Sales Representatives’ Countrywide Strike

To defend: Identity as Workers, Right to Work;

For: Price Control of Medicines, Tax Relief

AFTER their successful countrywide strike on 23 August, 2012, 1.5 lakh medical and sales representatives again resorted to country-wide strike on 4 December in response to the call of their all India federation, FMRAI, in pursuance of 18-point demands to central government, state governments and to the employers.

With massive infusion of FDI, one of the largest in India, through Indian companies’ 100 percent acquisition route in the background of massive austerity cuts in health sector and contraction of medicines’ market in industrially developed capitalist countries following world economic crisis; combined with UPA government’s vigorous neoliberal policy push and new drive for pharmaceuticals market’s restructuring and positioning for patent regime of MNCs; the medical and sales representatives are facing new attacks – attacks on their identity as workers and on their right to work. This attack is combined with massive misleading propaganda holding them responsible for high and spiraling prices of medicines and pharma corporate corruption. It is a cover up exercise of government’s adamant refusal of even Supreme Court’s direction of cost-based price control and tax relief of essential and other medicines and refusal to enactment of law to punish pharma corporates for corruption. 4 December strike emphasized on these attack-related issues in the already raised 18 points demands.

These demands include regally amended appointment letters in Form A under Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of Service) Act (SPE Act) to all existing employees to recognize them as workers; suspension of all sales promotion work till compliance; photo identity cards by state governments after verification of appointment letters in Form A or recognition of such I-cards issued by their registered unions for sales promotion employees; unfettered right to work with registered medical practitioners, hospitals and institutions. They are also demanding to bring 348 medicines in the ‘National List of Essential Medicines’ (NLEM) in the ‘List of Essential Drugs’ under DPCO with present 100% mark up cap; cost-based price control of all drugs; to revert to cost-based excise duty of all medicines; and no tax on essential drugs.

The demands also include constitution of Industrial Standing Committee for the Sales Promotion Employees, with FMRAI in it, as was recommended by national tripartite meeting in November, 2010; to frame statutory working rules in SPE Act; enforcement of 1982 amendment of Section 2(j)ii(b) of I.D. Act declaring ‘sales promotion’ as an ‘industry’; grievance committee under I.D. Act; fixation and legal notification on 8-hours work; notification of sales promotion employees in the list of scheduled industries under Minimum Wages Act and to put them in highest skilled category; extension of maternity leave for women sales promotion employees etc.

4 December countrywide strike was total with complete cessation of sales promotion activities in all states and union territories - from Kashmir valley to Kanyakumari and from Aizwal to Gujarat. The strike this time was wider even in the remote places where FMRAI’s organisational outfits are absent and deeper making inroads amongst unorganized sections. Thousands of field workers picketed in all cities and towns; held rallies and mass meetings addressed by CITU and leaders of fraternal organizations: submitted memoranda to district labour and civil administrations.

In Jamshedpur in Jharkhand local police filed FIR against BSSR Union on alleged charge of creating obstructions. In Kolkata, led by a local leader, TMC goons tried to terrorize the striking workers at Sinthee during their picketing and public meeting. They tore off the red flags and posters and threatened the striking workers of physical assault and so on. To protest, 200 WBMSRU members assembled there on 6 December holding public meeting. During the meeting, the TMC goons and anti-socials again came back and disrupted the meeting in presence the police who remained silent onlookers. Police even refused to accept FIR.

LIC Agents ‘March to Parliament’

ON 29 November, more than 15000 LIC agents from 22 states, under the banner of LIC Agents Organization of India (LICAOI), Marched to Parliament in a colourful procession with banners, flags, badges and hats and staged dharna at Jantar Mantar demanding legislation for job security; against FDI in insurance sector and retail; for withdrawal of notification making banks as brokers; and other LIC-related demands like amendment to Agents Regulations, 1972; to stop service taxes and direct marketing, cancellation of instructions to give new policies only after opening bank account with ECS and cheque facility; and for real pension, welfare fund, CPF, enhancement of gratuity and amendment of gratuity calculation; withdrawal of the proposal for new direct tax code bill 2010 etc.

Those led the March included CITU’s all India vice president, CPI(M)’s Lok Sabha leader and president of LICAOI Basudeb Achariya; its working president S.S. Potti; general secretary P.G. Dileep; vice presidents A.V. Bellarmin, former M.P., Somanath Bhattacharya, C.A. Joseph, R.P. Bharadwaj; secretaries M. Selvaraj, L. Manjunath, V.P. Anandan, Surajit Bose, Joy Xavier, Sudhanandam, Jayanta Basu, Ramakant Maurya and treasurer A.D. Joy.

Dharna was inaugurated by Basudeb Acharia and addressed by Members of the parliament P. Karunakaran, M..P. Rajesh, K.N. Balagopal, Dr. T.N. Seema, C.P. Narayanan, A. Sampath, P.K. Biju, T.K. RangaRajan, P.R. Nadarajan, S.K. Sahidul Haque and by Himachal Pradesh CITU state secretary Reveedra Kumar.

The speakers pointed out that despite private companies entering in insurance sector about 12 years back, LIC’s strong position could be maintained due to inter alia co-operation and hard work of the LIC agents which has become a model in the world. That LIC’s 97% of the business last year was done by agents is a clear proof of the trust created by agents among policy holders. This trust is the mainstay of the developing market for LIC during past 56 years. Foreign and Indian corporates in insurance sector realized that they could grab major portion of the market only by destroying strong agents’ network of LIC. IRDA, backed by Central government’s policy, is enforcing its rules precisely for this purpose. The slogan ‘Save LIC & Protect Agents’ is, therefore, relevant.

LIC management, Central government and IRDA should meet the minimum and reasonable expectation of the agents. On the demands, petition to the Lok Sabha Speaker and memorandum to the Union finance minister were submitted. S.S. Potti presided. General secretary P.G. Dileep proposed vote of thanks.

Interference in Quasi-Judicial Process of PF Law: CITU lodges strong protest

Interference in Quasi-Judicial Process of PF Law

CITU lodges strong protest

CITU general secretary Tapan Sen, MP in his letter of 14 December, 2012 to the Union minister for labour and employment Mallikarjun Khagre strongly protested against government’s interference in favour of the employers in the application of the process of law in respect of provident fund assessment of crores of workers and employees.

Vide reference no. 7(l)2012/RCs Review Meeting/ 345 dated 30 November 2012 the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) issued ‘Guidelines for Quasi-judicial proceedings under Section 7A of the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952’ to all PF commissioners.

Item no. 12 of the Guideline, on definition of ‘Basic wage’ for PF assessment, states that the basic wage shall include ‘all the payments except the specified exclusions.’ And ‘All such allowances which are ordinarily, necessarily and uniformly paid to the employees are to be treated as part of the basic wages’ for quasi-judicial intervention. On this, the media and the employers made hue and cry and the labour minister obliged by announcing this clarification in abeyance.

In his letter Tapan Sen pointed out, what is stated in item 12 of the above referred guideline “is nothing more than the reiteration of what has been provided under EPF Act” and “is the urgent need of the hour since there has been large number of violations by the employers, particularly in private sector where the employers use to calculate PF contribution only on a part of wages being paid to the workers in order to minimize their own obligation of matching contribution to workers’ PF.” The letter pointed out that even in case of statutory minimum wage; the employers deprive the workers from getting PF benefit on full quantum. However, the circular has also certain objectionable anti-workers provisions which the minister conveniently ignored.

It contains certain directions to circumvent judicious applicability of certain legal provisions. It directed the field officers that dues would not be assessed where the employers did not produce records for enquiries under Section 7A. This was an unwanted interference as the inquiry under Section 7A is a quasi judicial inquiry. This direction will give undue advantage to the employers who will be benefited by non-production of records. Certain cases, connected with such issues, are pending before the Supreme Court. Further, the circular stipulates 7 years limitation for inquiries under Section 7A. This is also against the interests of workers and is not applicable to quasi judicial inquires.

CITU and other trade unions also opposed these directions and demanded their withdrawal.

8th All India Conference of SWFI at Rourkela

8th All India Conference of SWFI at Rourkela

The 8th national conference of Steel Workers’ Federation of India was held at Bhanja Bhawan in Rourkela from 7th to 9th December 2012.

447 delegates from 43 affiliated units of SWFI spread over 6 states of India attended this conference. These 43 unions include permanent and contractor workers unions from public and private sector steel plants, mines, offices etc.

After garlanding to Martyrs Column, on 7th December the conference was inaugurated by Jibon Roy, secretary, CITU.

The discussion papers were in two parts – ‘Global economic crisis, its effect on Indian steel industry and the need to build stronger organisation among public and private sector steel workers’ and ‘General secretary’s report on organisation”. 53 delegates took part in the discussion and pledged to build a strong class based organisation among steel workers under the leadership of SWFI and CITU.

Delegates expressed their deep satisfaction about the successful struggles of steel workers on several issues including against disinvestment of SAIL and Vizag, the anti-worker wage agreement, annual bonus, illogical perquisite tax, export of iron ore etc. It was also pointed out that developing a broad based united front of major trade unions on important issues was another important success of steel workers.

Basudev Acharia, vice president of CITU spoke on the growing attacks on the working class through successive decisions of the government including FDI in retail trade. The discussion was summed up by P K Das, general secretary of Steel Workers’ Federation of India. Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU made the concluding speech in the conference and emphasised the need to make the two day country wide general strike on 20- 21 February a grand success.

Rourkela steel city witnessed a historic 2 km massive rally of more than 5000. In addition to the workers, local people, men and women participated in the rally carrying red flags, raising slogans, as well as dancing and singing to join the mass meeting on 8th December evening. Tapan Sen, Basudev Acharia, PK Das along with Lambodar Nayak, president and Bishnu Mohanty, general secretary of Odisha state committee of CITU addressed the gathering. A young workers’ meeting was arranged for open discussion with 340 participants in same venue on 9th December in which Tapan Sen, PK Das and Bishnu Mohanty participated. Cultural functions including Odissi and folk dances, body building competitions etc were organised y the reception committee every evening.

Rourkela and SWFI HQ at the leadership of Lalit Mishra, his team and help from Kerala comrades arranged a beautiful exhibition with rare photographs to display brutality of imperialist wars, cases of corruption at centre, price rise, and of the comrades who gave their lives for steel workers’ struggles and the SWFI conferences. Thousands of local people visited this photo gallery during the 4 days.

The conference unanimously elected a 125 member working committee with Tapan Sen as president, Ajit Mukherjee as working president, P K Das as general secretary and Swapan Sarkar as treasurer.

The Rourkela unit of the SWFI and Sundergarh district committee of CITU made excellent arrangements for the conference. The entire expenditure was met through door to door collection of funds from the permanent, contractor and unorganized workers of the Rourkela Steel Plant, the mines workers and people in general. This conference not only added strength to the organisation among steel workers in Rourkela but impacted the entire working class in the state.

8th Conference -All India Coal Workers’ Federation

8th Conference -All India Coal Workers’ Federation

The 8th conference of All India Coal Workers’ Federation held on 28 – 30 November 2012 in M K Pandhe Nagar in Maithan in Jharkhand.

The dais was named after the leaders of the federation Lakhan Bagdi & Kameswar Singh, who passed away after the last conference. 386 delegates and guests from 15 affiliated unions participated in the conference.

The conference started with the unfurling of the red flag by SK Bakshi, working president of the federation on 28th November and inaugurated by Nirupam Sen, former minister in the Left Front government in West Bengal. Bamapada Mukherjee, the legendary nonagenarian leader of coal workers movement was felicitated in the conference.

Jibon Roy, general secretary of All India Coal Workers’ Federation placed the report after the last conference.

The report dealt in detail with the conditions of coal workers and the organisational situation of the federation and emphasised the need to strengthen the organisation, cadre development and also to advance united movements.

A K Padmanabhan, president of CITU greeted the conference and strongly criticised the government’s anti worker policies and stressed the need to develop all India movement to defeat such policies.

He called upon the federation to take up the issues of the contract workers, young workers and women workers more seriously. He released the book ‘Contemporary trade union movement, challenges and possibilities’ written by Jibon Roy.

Greeting the conference, Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU said that the government was facilitating the loot of coal, a precious natural resource of the country, by the big corporations.

He made some concrete suggestions for overcoming certain weaknesses in the functioning of the union. Tapan released the souvenir published on the occasion.

Basudev Acharia, vice president of CITU and MP who has been associated with the coal workers’ movement since a long time congratulated the coal workers for stalling the privatisation bill but cautioned that the danger of privatisation still looms large. He called upon the delegates to strengthen united movements further.

The report was unanimously adopted after 44 delegates participated in the discussion and spoke on the conditions of the coal workers and their experiences in organising them.

The conference also unanimously adopted six resolutions opposing disinvestment, calling for strengthening united movement and total participation of coal workers in the two days’ general strike in February 2013.

A 91 member working committee with Basudev Acharia as president, SK Bakshi as working president, Jibon Roy as general secretary and Sukhapriya Chakraborty as treasurer was elected unanimously by the conference.

Thousands of people including coal workers and other sections of the working people attended the open session on 30th November 2012 held at Netaji Nagar Maidan.

The public meeting was presided by SK Bakshi and addressed by Tapan Sen, Padmanabhan, Basudev Acharia, Jibon Roy and others.

(Inputs by Manas Kumar Mukherjee, Secretary, AICWF)

20-21 FEBRUARY ALL INDIA GENERAL STRIKE : PREPARATIONS CONTINUE

20-21 February Strike - Preparations Continue

Reports from all over the country indicate that the trade union movement is making serious preparations for an effective countrywide strike on 20 – 21 February 2013. Reports of some of the state level conventions were carried in the last issue of ‘The Working Class’. Here are some more reports -

Uttar Pradesh After the successful joint state convention of central trade unions on 19 November 2012, a separate state level convention of the Uttar Pradesh units of the all India federations was held at Ganga Prasad Memorial Hall in Lucknow on 5 December for the success of the countrywide general strike on 20-21 February. Sukomal Sen, national vice president of CITU and former general secretary of All India State Government Employees’ Federation addressed the convention as the main speaker. Prem Nath Rai, general secretary of UP state committee of CITU along with the state leaders of other trade unions also addressed the convention.

Large number of employees including teachers, state and central government employees, insurance, bank, postal, transport, BNSL and warehousing corporation employees participated in the convention.

(Inputs: Prem Nath Rai)

Jharkhand

Around 300 trade union functionaries of all central trade unions and industrial federations attended the Jharkhand state convention for the preparation of 2 days’ countrywide strike at CMPDIL’s Mayuri Hall, Ranchi on 9 December.

Apart from issues and demands raised in the 4th September 2012 national convention in New Delhi, the convention also highlighted the anti-people and anti-worker policies of the state government. In the name of development, police and administration are acting as the strong arm of the corporates as seen in Kathautia Mines of Usha Martin in Daltonganj, in Jindal’s factory at Patratu, in Penam Coal Mines in Pakur, and in Electrosteel in Bokaro etc. The natural resources of the state are being looted by the big corporates in the name of investment. Peasants are being dispossessed of their lands by force causing huge migration of the rural poor from the state. The convention adopted a declaration expressive its resolve to fight against such policies. It also adopted a separate resolution condemning the increasing attacks of the BJP led state government on the trade union rights of the workers in general and on the electricity and sales promotion employees who went on strike recently, in particular. It demanded withdrawal of ESMA and the cases against the BSSR union members. The convention also decided to stage massive demonstrations before the Governor’s House on 18th December; launch state wide campaign to ensure total success of the two days’ countrywide strike in Jharkhand. The state level leaders of all the central trade unions including DD Ramanandan, general secretary of Jharkhand state committee of CITU addressed the convention. Mithilesh Singh from CITU was part of the presidium comprising representatives of all the central trade unions.

(Inputs: DD Ramanandan)

Punjab and Chandigarh

All the central trade unions and federations in Punjab and Chandigarh organised a joint convention at Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna Bhawan, Chandigarh on 9th December to prepare for an effective strike in the state and the Union Territory on 20 – 21 February 2013. The presidium consisted of the state presidents of the different trade unions including Vijay Misra, president of the Punjab state committee of CITU.

Raghunath Singh, general secretary of the Punjab state committee of CITU moved the main resolution and explained the demands. Representatives of all the central trade unions including Chandra Shekhar, Ranbir Singh Virk, Tarsem Jodhan, Usha Rani and others from CITU spoke in support of the resolution after which it was unanimously adopted.

The convention decided to launch house to house campaign from 13th December, to organise demonstrations and courting of arrest in front of district and sub-divisional administrative offices and 2 hours rasta roko agitation at 50 places on 18th and 19th December and mobilise 10000 workers and employees for the March to Parliament on 20th December. It has unanimously decided to make 20-21 February strike historic in Punjab and Chandigarh.

A separate resolution was adopted by the convention condemning the brutal murder of the father, himself a police officer, while protecting his bank employee daughter by a leader of the ruling Akali Dal (Badal). The convention gave a call to stage state-wide protest demonstrations on 12 December.

(Inputs: Raghunath Singh)

Odisha

A state level joint trade union convention for the success of the 2 days’ country wide strike in February 2013 was held on 4th December at Bhubaneswar. The convention decided to organise campaigns by holding conventions in districts and industrial centres, holding union wise general body meetings, public meetings and gate meetings, organising campaign squads to take the message of the strike to wider sections of workers, stage Satyagraha programme on 19th December in all the districts and to make the all India strike on 20-21 February completely successful in Odisha.

The Convention was conducted by a presidium comprising representatives of all the central trade unions. CITU was represented by Lambodar Nayak, president of Odisha state committee of CITU. Lambodar Nayak explained the Declaration on 10 point demands adopted in the joint national convention of trade unions in Delhi on 4th September 2012.

State leaders of the central trade unions and all India federations of bank, insurance, state and central government employees addressed the convention. Sivaji Patnaik and Dushmanta Das addressed the gathering on behalf of CITU.

The convention adopted a separate resolution condemning the belated declaration of Rs 150 as minimum wage, ignoring the unanimous recommendation of the state labour advisory board of a daily minimum wage of Rs.200. The convention also condemned the lack of implementation of the labour laws in the state as also the non implementation of the decisions of the construction workers’ welfare board.

(Inputs: Sridhar Misra)

MAGNIFICENT STRIKE BY BANK EMPLOYEES

MAGNIFICENT STRIKE BY BANK EMPLOYEES

Banking Industry of the country was paralysed on 20th December, 2012 with employees and officers going on strike at the joint call of Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) & All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA). National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) also gave a call for synchronized strike. United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) extended fraternal support to the strike and all the constituents not directly sponsoring the strike have expressed their solidarity with the striking unions by holding rallies, demonstrations and meetings.

The Strike on 20th December, 2012 is an outburst of Bank men’s unambiguous protest against the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2011 which the UPA – II has managed to legislate with overt support of the principal opposition in the Lok Sabha on 18th December last. The resultant law, viz. the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, having been also passed by Rajya Sabha on the strike day itself despite opposition from left and some other MPs, when it actually comes into effect after consent of the President, would (i) open the flood gate for entry of private corporates, both Indian and foreign, into the Banking Sector now being dominated by Public Sector Banks (PSBs), (ii) pave the way for privatisation of PSBs and, consequently, for handing over Rs.65- lakh-crore of Bank-Deposits into the hands of those private-sharks who have already looted the Banks to the tune of more than Rs.2- lakh-crore, AND OVERALL, (III) spell doom not only for the depositors but also for the entire financial sector of the country as has recently been witnessed in none other than the paradise of private capital, the United States, where more than 400 (457 to be exact) Banks, including a number of global financial giants, have gone red since the global financial meltdown in September 2008.

Rallies, demonstrations, processions, gate meetings were organised by the striking bank employees throughout the length and breadth of the country. Incidentally, the bank employees and officers have observed, prior to the one on 20th December 2012, 31 days of ALL INDIA STRIKES in BANKS against neo-liberal reforms since early 1990s; regretfully enough, the Central Government appears to be committed to the OVAL OFFICE to further the interests of the MNCs even at the cost of AAM AADMI who voted them to power.

While employees were on strike, Rajya Sabha was discussing the bill. Tapan Sen, General Secretary of CITU, participating in the discussion, opposed the bill and said “I represent the voice of seven lakh bank employees. Today employees of all affiliations, right, left and centre have gone on strike to protest against the retrograde bill. I also seek to represent today voice of 50,000 workers who are staging protest in Parliament Street, near the Parliament House, opposing the very policies contained in this kind of Bill.”

CITU congratulated the employees and officers in the banking sector, who have gone on this protest strike as soon as the Bill was adopted by Lok Sabha. Parliament has adopted the bill, but the struggle against these policies will have to continue.

In Tripura Seventh L.F. Govt. will be a reality

It was an unprecedented mobilization in Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, on 9th December. At the call of Tripura State Committee, more than 50,000 men and women had poured in to the Vivekananda Maidan from different parts of the state. Many came by walk even from long distances, hundreds of vans and jeeps brought many and some came by the metergauge train. The vast maidan was overflowing by noon, when the meeting began.

This rally of workers was organized by CITU State Committee, to declare the support of the workers to the LF Govt. in Tripura and to declare that workers will make the formation of the Seventh Left Front Government in the state a reality in the elections to be held in February 2013.

Not only the maidan, but the town and suburban areas were turned into red through flags, festoons and banners. The main contingents of workers came into the maidan, as brigades named after Comrades M.K. Pandhe, Baidyanath Majumdar, Biren Dutta and Bhanu Ghosh.

Manik De, President, State CITU and Labour Minister, presided over the meeting. Piyush Nag, General Secretary of State Committee, A.K. Padmanabhan, President CITU and Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister addressed the huge gathering.

Padmanabhan greeted the workers on behalf of more than 55 lakhs of CITU members out side Tripura and expressed the hope that the working people of Tripura will be able to defeat all the conspiracies of the Congress Party and ensure the formation of the L.F. Govt. for the Seventh time. He hoped that the victory in Tripura will enthuse the left and democratic forces in the country and the mss movement against the anti-people UPA and communal and divisive forces in the country will get strengthened. He explained the united struggles of the Trade Union movement in the country against the neoliberal policies of the ruling classes and called upon the CITU cadres to reach out to each and every worker in the state with the message of united movement in the country. The struggle at the national level and the struggle for the formation of the seventh LF Government are part and parcel of the struggle for a change in the policies of the ruling classes and safeguard the interests of the toiling masses.

Manik Sarkar, in his address cautioned the workers, about the conspiracies being hatched by the Congress opposition in the state. He explained how these forces had acted in the past, especially in 1988, when the popular mandate of the people was overturned with the help of army and also terrorist organizations; at the direct intervention of Rajiv Gandhi Govt. at centre.

Those five years became a period of unprecedented attacks on the people and the leaders. But, the people fought back and the third L.F. Govt. was voted to power in 1993. After that, in every election people have voted for the left. He explained in detail, the pro-people, pro-worker measures of the L.F. Govt. and various schemes introduced for the workers.

In Tripura, various organizations are mobilizing masses in support of the left and the 9th December rally of workers was fourth in a series of mass rallies and the previous one were organized by Ganamukti Parishad of the Tribal People, then the Dalits, followed by youth organized by DYFI and Tribal Youth Federation (TYF). On 16th December, AIDWA organized a massive womens rally. The massive and enthusiastic participation of people in rallies and the campaigns makes one confident that Seventh L.F. Govt. in Tripura will be a reality in 2013.

CITU > Monthly Journals

Forward to 14th Conference Preparations have already begun in Kannur, Kerala for the 14th All India Conference of CITU, to be held from 4th to 8th April 2013. On this occasion, let us have a brief look at all the previous conferences. Foundation Conference The All India Trade Union Conference was held from 28th to 30th May, as per the decision of a Convention of General Council members and State Committee members of AITUC, held at Goa on 9th and 10th April 1970. It was held at Lenin Nagar (Ranji Stadium) in Kolkata. A reception committee with Com. Jyoti Basu as Chairman and Com. Manoranjan Roy as General Secretary organized the conference. Reception Committee had enrolled 50,000 workers as members of the committee. The review made later noted that the enthusiasm among workers for this conference was such that, when a call was made for collection of Rs.2 lakhs, 3 lakhs was collected within a short period of 3 weeks! The Conference was attended by 4264 delegates representing 1759 unions with a membership of 8,04,637/- from 18 states. Fraternal unions sent 116 delegates and 1134 observers attended the conference, making a total of 5514 participants. The Conference was guided by a presidium consisting of Mohammed Ismail, Suhrid Mullick Chaudhury, Haridas Malakar, E. Balanandan, Bimalanada Mukherji, A Balasubramaniam and S.Y. Kolhatkar. P. Ramamurti presented the report, which was earlier circulated in English, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil and Malayalam. There were brief translation of all speeches in all languages for the delegates. The resolution on formation of a new All India Trade Union Centre, to be named Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) was moved in the Conference on 30th May, by Com.Manoranjan Roy (West Bengal) and seconded by E. Balanandan (Kerala); which was passed unanimously among thunderous applause and shouting of slogans. The Conference elected B.T. Ranadive as President, P. Ramamurti as General Secretary and Kamal Sarkar as Treasurer. Mohammed Ismail, S.Y. Kolhatkar, E. Balanandan, Suhrid Mallick Chaudhari and Sudhin Kumar were elected Vice-Presidents and M.K. Pandhe, Manoranjan Roy and Niren Ghosh as Secretaries. The Conference elected 158 General Council members and 33 working committee members were elected by the General Council. The Working Committee included Coms. Jyoti Basu and Samar Mukherji. On 31st May, a massive rally of 10 lakh workers was held in the Brigade Parade Ground. Second Conference Second All India Conference was held in Ernakulam, in Kerala from 18th to 22nd April 1973. Meeting after 3 years of the foundation conference and at the time of serious political developments in the country, this was an important conference in our history. Com. B.T. Ranadive, in his presidential address referred to the massive arrests of comrades who were put behind bars under MISA and to the monstrous repression in West Bengal and also in other states. General Secretary’s report, presented by Com. P.Ramamurti gave details about all these attacks and the struggles being conducted by our unions, defending the rights of working people. The Conference reelected Com. BTR and PR as President and General Secretary. Com. Jyoti Basu was elected as one of the Seven Vice Presidents. Samar Mukherjee was elected Treasurer. The conference concluded with a massive rally on 22nd April. Third Conference at Mumbai Third Conference was held in Mumbai, from 21st to 25th May 1975. Com. B.T.R, began his Presidential address, greeting the people of Vietnam and Cambodia, for their epochal victories against US imperialism. He also referred to the continuous struggles conducted by the Indian working class. Among others, he noted that “on an average more than a million and half are engaged in strike action since 1966, a whole decade.” In his concluding address, Com. BTR, referred in detail to the points raised in the discussions, increasing attacks on working class and pointed out that more and more attacks, including those on our democratic rights are in the offing. He thundered, “We stand by class struggle, we have got a conception of class struggle, we have got a conception of worker-peasant alliance. Anything which deviates from this, will not take us to the goal of revolution”. He also pointed out that “inspite of immediate difficulties, we are entering a period of tremendous opportunities”. The Conference reelected Coms. BTR and PR as President and General Secretary and Manoranjan Roy was elected Treasurer. Coms. Samar Mukherjee and Nrisingha Chakraborty were among the six Secretaries. Chennai Conference The Fourth Conference was held at Chennai, from 11 to 15 April 1979. The period between the third and fourth Conference was a period of critical importance to the Indian democratic movement. Within a month of 3rd Conference, Emergency was declared and denial of democratic rights was complete. The authoritarian Govt., led by Indira Gandhi, violated all democratic norms but could not continue in power. 1977 elections to the Lok Sabha, brought to power a Janata Party Govt. the first non-Congress Govt. at centre. Later, in West Bengal Assembly elections, the first Left Govt. was voted to power and Com. Jyoti Basu became the Chief Minister. In 1978, Tripura also voted for a left front government. The united struggle involving all Central Trade Unions against the Industrial Relations Bill in 1978 was a new phase of united trade union movement. It was just prior to this fourth conference that a separate all India convention of working women was held and the All India Co-ordination Committee of working women was formed with Comrade Vimala Ranadive as Convenor. Coms. BTR and PR were re-elected as President and General Secretary and Samar Mukherjee was elected Treasurer. Com. Sushila Gopalan was one of the nine Vice-Presidents and was the first woman in the CITU secretariat..... (to be continued - compiled by A K Padmanabhan)

Rs 10,000 Minimum Wage Is Justified

Rs 10,000 as minimum wage, is a major demand for 20-21 February, 2013 nation-wide general strike of the workers. All Central Trade Unions and Industrial Federations, representing the entire working class of the country, raised this demand. It is important to note that the trade unions raised this demand for the first time in the national convention of the workers in New Delhi on 7 September 2011. Working Class Family Income & Expenditure Survey, 1999-2000, conducted by Labour Bureau, shows that on an average more than 4 persons in a family depend on income of 1 (one) worker. Therefore, the minimum wage of the worker shall take into consideration the expenses incurred by 4 members’ family unit of a worker. The Planning Commission itself had adopted an average of 2100 calorie in urban areas per person per day as minimum nutritional norms or the poverty line. Based on NSS Reports No.538 on Consumer Expenditure and No.540 on Nutritional Intake in 2009-2010 in urban areas, to meet the requirement of this 2100 calorie intake per person per day bench mark of Planning Commission itself would require Rs.2125 in 2009-2010. And for a family of four (4) would require Rs.8500 per month just to be on poverty line. With 12.5% inflation rate in next two years, based on the consumers price index for the working class, this amount of Rs.8,500 comes to Rs.10,758 per month in 2011-2012 and higher in the current 2012-2013 financial year.

But, Minimum Wage has to be higher than the poverty line expenditure. It is important to note the latest 66th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) report, which shows that health care and other minimum necessities gobble up major portion of the income of the workers. Such expenses combined with high rate of food inflation and spiralling price rise, forced the workers to cut their food expenses resulting in sharp drop in calorie intake of entire worker’s family. NSS report also shows that on the basis of Planning Commission’s 2100 calorie intake norms itself, 74% of urban people were living below it and almost all of them are unorganized labour to whom Minimum Wages Act applies. A state-wise study will show that in the current financial year, the maximum amount as minimum wage is fixed as Rs.6000. Whatever the minimum wages are fixed, those are also not being paid, under some pretext, pushing the vast majority of workers much below the poverty line struggling for survival and suffering from malnutrition. Therefore, working class is justified in urgently demanding Rs.10000 as Minimum Wage which needs to be adjusted with price rise and inflation. The Planning Commission was established for planned development for the people of the country. However, same Planning Commission, which fixed 2100 calories per day per person in urban areas as minimum nutritional norms; spent 30 lakhs for renovation of Yojna Bhavan toilets and CCTV for surveillance; and arbitrarily and ridiculously announces Rs.32 per day per person as poverty line in urban areas.

LAKHS OF WORKERS COURT ARREST

LAKHS OF WORKERS COURT ARREST

Lakhs of workers all over the country responded magnificently to the call of the central trade unions to court arrest protesting against the apathetic attitude of the government towards the ten major demands repeatedly raised by the entire trade union movement since the last more than three years. Workers in thousands organised demonstrations, sit ins, rail and road roko programmes in various parts of the country and courted arrest on 18th and 19th December. Reports received from some states as we go to the press are given below:

In West Bengal, around 107000 workers participated in the demonstrations and courted arrest in almost all the district headquarters. In Kolkata alone, more than 25000 workers courted arrest.

In Andhra Pradesh, jail bharo programme was held in all the 23 districts in the state on both 18th and 19th December. On 18th December, more than 21000 workers courted arrest in 186 centres. CITU members participated in large numbers. 3885 workers were arrested on the day. On 19th December, around 8500 workers in 177 centres courted arrest with a large participation of CITU members. Around 700 were arrested. Dharnas, picketing of tehsildars’ offices, road blockades on national highways, gherao of district collectors’ offices, processions, protest demonstrations, rallies, burning of effigies etc were held all over the state before courting of arrest. In Hyderabad 2000 workers in 13 zones participated in the programme organising rasta rokos in two industrial areas. Sudha Bhaskar, general secretary of the state committee of CITU was arrested in Hyderabad while the other office bearers of the CITU state committee courted arrest in different district headquarters. 3000 workers in the industrial area of Medak district courted arrest.

Assam – As per reports more than 30000 workers courted arrest at the district headquarters on 18th December. In Kerala massive demonstrations were held in all the 140 assembly constituencies in the state in which workers from all the trade unions involved in the campaign participated. It is to be noted that in Kerala, several state level unions, in addition to the central trade unions, are jointly conducting the campaign for the 20 – 21 February 2013 country wide general strike.

Uttar Pradesh – Hundreds of workers courted arrest in the state in several district headquarters including Kanpur, Varanasi, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Chandauli and Juanpur. In Lucknow, a two day dharna was organised in front of the Vidhan Sabha in which employees from state and central government departments, insurance, bank BSNL and unorganised sector workers participated.

Maharashtra - Thousands of workers in different district headquarters and industrial centres – at Mumbai, Nagpur, Solapur, Nasik, Pune, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Wardha, Ichalkaranji, Sangli, Igatpuri, Talasari etc – brought out rallies; staged demonstrations in front of collectorates; resorted to road blockade; and courted arrest on 19 December. 10,000 strong rally was held at Solapur, led by CITU state president Narasaiyya Adam. CITU general secretary Dr D L Karad led the rally at Nasik. Participation of women; middle class employees of central and state governments, insurance and bank; and unorganized sector workers from beedi, construction, Anganwadi, asha etc were significant. At some places peasants and agricultural workers including adibasis also joined in large numbers.

In Tamil Nadu, hundreds of workers in Chennai and several other railway stations held a rail roko and courted arrest. Workers belonging to the central trade unions courted arrest in almost all the district headquarters on 18th December.

Jharkhand - On 18 December, CITU led demonstrations of thousands of workers in front of DLC offices at Sahebganj, Pakur and Jamshedpur and courted arrest. At Adityapur, hundreds of workers, led by CITU and BMS, resorted to road blockade when police arrested them. In Ranchi, thousands of workers marched to Raj Bhawan and blocked the road in front of Raj Bhawan for 4 hours. But the administration did not arrest. 50,000 joint leaflets were printed for the programme. It was decided to organise joint conventions at district and industrial area level and to hold 200 public meetings jointly all over the state for the success of the strike. The peasants will organise rail roko, rasta roko in support of the strike

Odisha - More than 20000 workers and employees courted arrest throughout the state on 18th and 19th December in different district and industrial centres and in the state capital Bhubaneswar. At State Capital Bhubaneswar more than one thousand workers led by CITU, AITUC, HMS, INTUC, AICCTU, and AIUTUC, took out a colourful procession from Railway Station to State Assembly and courted arrest in front of the state assembly. Sivaji Patnaik, vice president of Odisha state committee of CITU was among those arrested in Bhubaneswar. CITU mobilised thousands of workers in Sundergarh district where around 10000 workers courted arrest in different mines including Koida, Rajamunda, Banei, Lahtikata, Vedvyas, where Bishnu Mohanty, general secretary of the Odisha state committee of CITU was arrested. Lambodar Nayak, president of the state committee of CITU was arrested in Khurda. CITU members actively participated in the jail bharo movement in Baleswar, Cuttack, Barbil, Angul, Puri, Nayagarh, Bhadrak, Paradeep, Jagatsingpur, Jajpur etc. The office bearers of the state committee of CITU participated in these different places and were arrested.

Jammu and Kashmir - The CITU state committee organised jail bharo on 19th December in Jammu in which large number of ASHAs, anganwadi employees, railway loading and unloading workers, coal workers, construction workers, hydro power project workers, etc marched in a procession from Vikram chowk and courted arrest at the Indira chowk. Tarigami, MLA and president, Om Prakash, general secretary, Sham Prasad Kesar, treasurer of the state committee of CITU along with the other office bearers of the state committee of CITU participated in the courting arrest programme.

Punjab - The call of jail bharo received unprecedented response from the workers in Punjab. Over 20000 workers organised chakka jam at around 20 places in Punjab and Chandigarh on 18th December at the call of the central trade unions and industrial federations and courted arrest. Brick kiln workers, transport workers, forest workers, MNREGA, construction workers, anganwadi employees, ASHAs, mid day meal workers and other sections of workers participated in the programme in almost all the districts in the state. Vijay Mishra, president and Raghunath Singh, general secretary along with the other office bearers of the state committee of CITU participated in the courting arrest in different centres.

Karnataka - Jail bharo was held in around 20 districts in the state. In some districts like Tumkur, Mysore, Chitradurga, Bellary, Hasan, Chickballapur, Raichur, Koppala, Udupi etc demonstrations were held in several taluks also and workers courted arrest at the taluk level. Anganwadi employees, panchayat workers, mid day meal workers, medical representatives, beedi workers and others participated in large numbers in the programme. In Bangalore, around 1000 workers participated in the demonstration and 400 of them were arrested.

Manipur - The coordinating body of trade unions, Manipur, a conglomerate of unions affiliated to the central trade unions and independent trade unions in Manipur organised a two days programme on 18 – 19 December 2012, as per the call of the central trade unions and industrial federations. A meeting of the trade unions was held on 8th December 2012 to plan the programme. As per the decision of this meeting, street corner meetings were organised in and around Imphal city on 18th December. 10000 leaflets were printed and distributed and joint meetings were held. In three special street corner meetings, loud speakers were used to cover the entire market area and attracted the rural and urban population, particularly the women workers and street vendors. On 19th December, a protest law violation meeting was held in Imphal but the administration under direct intervention from the home department did not permit the use of loud speakers as it was the first day of the winter session of the state assembly. Around 500 participated in this meeting, which unanimously resolved to organise more meetings all over the state including in towns and villages and far flung remote areas in all district to popularise the demands of the 20 – 21 February 2013 countrywide general strike.

CENTRE OF INDIAN TRADE UNIONS: Towards 14th Conference:Reception Committee formed

CENTRE OF INDIAN TRADE UNIONS

Towards 14th Conference:Reception Committee formed

The reception committee for the successful holding of the 14th All India Conference from 4th to 8th April, 2013 has been formed in Kannur. In a largely attended meeting on 27th November with representatives of various class and mass organizations and also leading personalities from various other fields, the reception committee with 5001 members has been formed. K.N. Ravindranath, President of Kerala State CITU presided over the meeting. M.M. Lawrence, State General Secretary welcomed the participants. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Leader of Kisan Sabha and presently Deputy leader of opposition in the state legislature inaugurated. Elamaram Kareem, K. Chandran Pillai and K.P. Sahadevan Secretaries of the State Committee addressed.

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is the Chairman and K.P. Sahadevan, the General Convener of the reception committee. 501 members are there in the executive committee.

The 19 Vice Chairpersons include leading personalities in the cultural and art fields also.

There are eleven convenors and C. Krishnan, MLA, Dt. Secretary is the Treasurer.

Chairman and Convenors of various Sub-Committees like Finance, Media, Propaganda, Food, Decoration, Accommodation, Reception, Rally, Volunteers, Transport, Medical and Cultural Programmes were also elected.

Conference will be held in specially erected Pandal in the Police Maidan and public rally on 8th April will be held in Jawahar Stadium.

Workers’ Massive March to Indian Parliament

Workers’ Massive March to Parliament

The participation of workers in the joint trade union ‘March to Parliament’ was beyond all expectations making the preparations inadequate. Around 50000 workers from all the central trade unions and many industrial federations including those of state and central government employees, defence, insurance, banks, telecom etc gathered near the Parliament on 20th December. This massive response demonstrated the determination of the workers to continue the united struggle on the 10 point charter of demands, including the two day’s country wide general strike on 20 – 21 February 2013. The urge for unity irrespective of their political affiliations was clearly visible.

Most of these workers and employees were from the neighbouring states of Delhi like Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. But workers and employees also came from far off states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar etc though the call was for mobilisation from the near by states only. Large number of workers from the industrial areas surrounding Delhi including the workers of Maruti Suzuki and others participated in the rally along with anganwadi employees, ASHAs, railway gang men, transport workers, electricity workers etc.

The March to Parliament was the culmination of 2 days countrywide jail bharo agitation on 18-19 December in which lakhs of workers and employees courted arrest all over the country. Congratulating the working class for the huge participation in the ‘March to Parliament’, a joint statement issued by the central trade unions stated that the unprecedented participation and the enthusiasm of the participants showed the anger of the workers against the anti worker policies of the government.

A presidium with representatives of all the central trade unions including AK Padmanabhan, president of CITU conducted the meeting. Tapan Sen (CITU), Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC), B. N. Rai (BMS), Ashok Singh (INTUC), R. A. Mittal (HMS), Satyawan (AIUTUC), Swapan Mukherjee (AICCTU), Ashok Singh (UTUC), S. P. Tiwari (TUCC), Shanmugham (LPF) and the representative from SEWA addressed the gathering.

The meeting moved a separate resolution condemning the recent heinous rape and assault on a 23 year old girl in Delhi and against the increasing violence against women in the country, especially the capital city and the failure of the administration to provide security to its citizens.

It also adopted a resolution in support of the struggle of the workers in the Manesar plant of Maruti Suzuki. The resolution demanded reinstatement of all workers who were terminated illegally and withdrawal of the false cases against the workers.

The working class of India welcomes the New Year 2013 with a determination to carry forward, with increased unity and intensity, the fight against the neoliberal order to its logical end.

Editorial

A New Year of Unity and Struggle!

The working class of India welcomes the New Year 2013 with a determination to carry forward, with increased unity and intensity, the fight against the neoliberal order to its logical end.

The end of 2012 clearly witnessed the growing divergence between the interests of the working people and the direction of the UPA II government. On the one hand, the government unequivocally declared its intention to go ahead with its neoliberal agenda. It has ensured passage of the Banking bill in the Parliament. It is going ahead with the implementation of the direct cash transfer programme, renamed ‘direct benefit transfer’ programme, despite wide opposition. It has put into full use its abilities to ‘manufacture majority’ in the Parliament on the issue of FDI in retail. It is a disgrace to our Parliamentary system that while the parties who spoke against FDI in retail had absolute majority in both the houses of Parliament, the government was able to muster majority when it came to voting. This also exposes the height of opportunism of these parties who shed crocodile tears for the common people but have no compunction in supporting anti people policies in practice.

The events in 2012 have also highlighted the fact that the two major national parties, the Congress and the BJP are no different as far as their commitment to the neoliberal policies is concerned, which was once more proved with the BJP supporting the Banking bill in the Parliament. Nor are they any different in the case of corruption at high places. While in power they implement these policies in their own class interests; when in opposition they oppose them to gain power so that they can implement the very same policies.

In shark contrast to the Congress, BJP and the many regional parties, it was only the Left parties who have been consistently opposing the neoliberal policies on all occasions, inside and outside the Parliament. However, their depleted strength in the Parliament has enabled the UPA government to ‘manage’ majority in the Parliament to push through the anti worker and anti people policies

2012 was also the year when the working class of the country announced, in no uncertain terms, its strong resolve to resist and push back the attacks of the neoliberal policies. The past two months have witnessed huge sectoral struggles of the working class - the country wide strike of construction workers, the historic ‘mahapadav’ of the scheme workers in Delhi, the country wide strike of the central government employees, of the bank employees and officers. The insurance employees are getting ready for country wide strike when the bill increasing FDI in insurance is introduced. The massive country wide response to the call of the central trade unions for the Jail Bharo programme and the huge March to Parliament as a prelude to the two days’ country wide general strike on 20 – 21 February are but indications of the enthusiasm with which the working class of the country is preparing for the struggles ahead. The decision of the peasants and agricultural workers to strike and organise massive demonstrations on the same days is a welcome development. This unity not only of the working class, but also with all sections of the toiling people needs to be strengthened in the coming days.

Developments worldwide confirm the failure of the capitalist system itself in ensuring decent and just conditions for all sections of working people. Let us usher in 2013 with the determination to carry forward our march towards the establishment of a society free from any exploitation.