6th Conference of All India Beedi Workers Federation Pledges participation in 20-21 February strike

6th Conference of All India Beedi Workers Federation Pledges participation in 20-21 February strike

6TH conference of All India Beedi Workers Federation (AIBWF) adopted resolution to join the 20-21 February strike in full strength. The 6th Conference of AIBWF was held at Comrade Tanulal Mandalwar and Comrade Kamalapathi Tripathi Manch in Comrade M.K. Pandhe Nagar (Swarna Palace) of on–this-occasion-CITU-flag-decorated Warangal city in Andhra Pradesh on 4 - 6 January, 2013.

On 4 January, open session was held as a public meeting at Pochcha Maidan presided over by secretary of Andhra Pradesh Beedi Workers Federation S. Rama and addressed by CITU vice president Basudev Acharya, MP; Rangareddy, MLA; general secretary of AIBWF Md Nizamuddin; Maharasthra state president of CITU Narsiya Adam; and CITU A.P. state leader Veeriah.

288 delegates and observers participated in the conference. Vice president Fatima Farida Baig hoisted the flag. After floral tribute to the martyrs, the conference began with B. Madhab, Abul Hasnat Khan, K. P. Sahadeban, M. P. Ramchandran and Fatima Farida Baig in the presidium. Inaugurating the conference CITU president A.K. Padmanavan scathingly criticized the central government for inviting FDI in retail, disinvestment in almost all profit making PSUs; periodical price hike of petroleum products; withdrawal of subsidies from fertilizer and other agricultural inputs; galloping price rise of all essential commodities and, as a result, how these decisions were having catastrophic effect on the common people; 77 % of the people living with paltry amount of Rs.20 per day. He emphasized on the responsibility of the working class of the country, including beedi workers, to defeat these policies the central government by building united movement. The unanimous resolution of all central trade unions and federations on 4 September convention in New Delhi is to build this united movement including 48 hours strike on 20-21 February, 2013. He called upon the beedi workers to take the responsibility of ensure success of the strike.

He also emphasized on the necessity of realizing of Beedi Workers demands viz, common minimum wage of Rs.200+D.A., identity card, pension, gratuity, increase in housing grant, medical benefit etc. Loss of jobs of the beedi workers because of the policies persuade by the central government and demanded that the government must arrange alternative job or compensation. Basudeb Acharya also addressed the delegates.

The report, placed by the general secretary Md. Nizamuddin noted the international and national situation and the beedi workers problems in that background. He drew particular attention to the weakness of the organizations. Beedi workers constitute the maximum numbers in the unorganized sector of the working class. They are the most deprived section in the country having no definite minimum wage, facility of pension, provident fund and other facilities. The welfare schemes, as have been granted, are not also available because of the red-tapism in welfare commissioner’s office. To ameliorate the problems in favour, the beedi workers have to develop long drawn sustained struggle jointly with other unions, and for that, there is need of matching organizational strength. The membership is far below the total 90 lakhs beedi workers in the country. Experience showed wherever the central CITU nourished the state beedi federations and state CITU nourished the district beedi unions the results are good.

After discussion 18 delegates and reply by the general secretary, the report was adopted nanimously. The conference also unanimously adopted resolutions On participation in February 20-21 strike; against FDI in retail; on common minimum wage of Rs. 200+D.A. and realization of 11 point charter of demands; on security of women; restoration of democratic rights in West Bengal; and on pension for the beedi workers. Conference called upon the beedi workers to observe All India Demand Day on April 24, 2013.

Conference re-elected B. Madhab as president, Md. Nizamuddin as general secretary, Debasis Roy as deputy general secretary and Paras Basu as treasurer and a elected a 73 members working committee with 20 office bearers. The notable feature of the conference was that the beedi workers of Warangal themselves enthusiastically contributed for the success of the conference Rs 5 lakhs from their wages. Rs. 5 lakhs more were collected from other workers and employees. More than 140 women and men volunteers from different fraternal organizations of the city toiled continuously for hosting the conference. (Inputs: Md. Nizamuddin)