COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER STANDS
FLASH NEWS
28t h August 2015
COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER STANDS
CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS REASSERT THE CALL FOR UNITED ACTION
MARCH AHEAD UNITEDLY, MAKE THE COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER A MASSIVE SUCCESS
After two rounds of
discussion between the Group of Ministers and the central trade unions
on the 12-point charter of demands of the trade unions held on 26th and 27th August
2015, the GoM headed by Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley sent an
appeal through the press release dated 27-08-2015 (Press Information
Bureau) after 10 pm urging upon the trade unions to reconsider the call
for countrywide general strike on 2nd September 2015 claiming
that the Govt has given concrete assurance to consider most of the
demands of the trade unions and that the trade unions agreed to
consider the Govt’s proposals. Similar appeal was also made in the
meeting of 27th August. Both the claims of the Govt are totally incorrect.
To put the facts
straight, the joint platform of central trade unions have been pursuing
with successive governments at the centre with their basic demands since
2009 and observed three rounds of countrywide general strike since
2010, the last being for two days in February 2013. In the two rounds of
meeting between the CTUOs and the Group of Minister, nothing transpired
in concrete terms except vague statements by the ministers on steps to
be taken or being taken on some of the issues, that too not in the right
direction.
The Govt’s press release mentioned, inter alia, certain issues in support of their unfounded claim.
1. The
Govt stated about “appropriate legislation for making formula based
minimum wages mandatory and applicable” for all. But despite concrete
pointers made by the trade unions that such formula should be what has
already been unanimously recommended by the 44th Indian Labour Conference in 2012 and again reiterated by 46th Indian
Labour Conference in July 2015 in which the Govt of India is also a
party, the Ministers did not give any concrete commitment on the same.
In fact said formulae recommended by 44th ILC in 2012 and reiterated by 46th ILC
in July 2015, makes minimum wage around Rs 20000/- at 2014 price level
and the Trade Unions demanded only Rs 15,000/. The Ministers’ vague
formulation does not ensure even half of that. Is such a position worth
consideration?
2. On
contract workers, the Govt assured that they will be guaranteed minimum
wages. What is there to assure except spreading deliberate confusion?
Existing laws of the land lawfully ensures payment of minimum wages to
contract workers. The Govt’s statement regarding “sector specific
minimum wages for the contract workers” also does not make any sense.
The trade unions demanded “same wages and other benefits as regular
workers in the concerned industry/establishment to be paid to contract
workers.” The 43rd Indian Labour Conference held in 2011 recommended the same and 46th ILC
unanimously reiterated the same in 2015, in which, again, the present
Govt is a party. How could they deny the unanimous recommendation of the
highest tripartite forum in the country like Indian Labour Conference?
3. The
steps taken by the Govt on Labour Law amendments, are meticulously
designed to throw out more than 70% of the workers on industries and
other establishments from the purview and coverage of almost all basic
labour laws and also to eliminate almost all components/provisions of
rights and protections of the workers. This was supplemented by more
aggressive steps already taken by a good number of state governments to
already amend the labour laws in the similar lines. On this issue, the
Govt stated only that they will hold tripartite consultation before
taking such steps. The trade unions demanded scrapping of such
proposals by the central govt and also not to give assents (through
President) to the unilateral amendments made by the state governments.
Even in all the tripartite consultations held on some of the proposals
of the Govt, the trade unions’ unanimous suggestions has been ignored by
the Govt in favour of loud supportive applauds of the employers. Once
these retrograde changes in labour laws totally dismantling the rights
and protection measures for the workers and also throwing more that 70%
of the workers out of the purview of labour laws are enacted, thereby
rendering the almost entire working people a right-less entity in their
workplace, what would ensure even payment of minimum wage and other
social security benefits for them, even if those provisions are improved
? Can any trade union, worth its name accept such a machination
designed to impose conditions of virtual slavery on the working people ?
4. Despite
repeated insistence by all the trade unions, the Govt refused to
concede to the demand for recognizing the Scheme workers, viz.,
Anganwadi, Mid-day meal, ASHA, Para-teachers and others as “worker” with
attendant rights of statutory minimum wages and other benefits in gross
violation of the unanimous recommendation of the 45th Indian Labour Conference in 2013, reiterated again by the 46th ILC
in 2015. These workers and all the schemes have been put to further
crisis threatening their existance owing to drastic cut in budgetary
allocations for those schemes. In such a situation, does the assurance
of the Govt to “extend social security measures” and “working out ways”
for the same carry any meaning?
5. On
bonus issue, the Govt has assured to revise the eligibility and
calculation ceiling to Rs 21000/- and Rs 7000/- respectively from
existing Rs 10000/- and Rs 3500/-. Trade Unions’ demand has been that
since there is no ceiling on profit, all ceilings in the Payment of
Bonus Act should be removed altogether. Trade unions also demanded
substantial upward revision of the formula for gratuity calculation and
remove the ceiling on gratuity payment. The Govt has negated the
demands.
6. On
price rise situation, claim of the Govt that it has gone down does not
match with ground reality in respect of commodities for daily
necessities of the common people. The demands of the trade unions for
putting a ban on speculation/forward trading in essential commodities
and services along with universalisation of public distribution system
throughout the country have been totally ignored.
7. Trade
Unions demanded stoppage of disinvestment in public sector undertakings
playing crucial and supportive role in advancement of the national
economy. Govt totally ignored the same, rather has been going on
aggressively in disinvestment route in all the major PSUs much to the
detriment of the interest of the country’s economy. On the demands for
stoppage of further FDI in defence, railways and financial sector, the
stance of the Govt is continuing to be a total denial. Rather, the Govt
has been aggressively pursuing deregulation and privatization in
strategic sectors like electricity, Port & Docks, Airports etc in a
big way.
There are other issues
as well, statement of Govt continued to be totally vague and their claim
is unfounded. How can anybody, rather any trade union worth its name
can consider above stands taken by the Govt on vital demands of the
workers as a positive development and move out from the programme of
united strike action ?
Therefore, there is
absolutely no reason for reconsidering the decisions of the Central
Trade Unions for countrywide general strike on 2nd September
2015. Rather, the situation demands that there should be no vascillation
in carrying forward the call for general strike on 2nd September 2015 throughout the country in all sectors of the economy with firm determination.
The Central Trade
Unions appeal to all working people irrespective of affiliations to make
the call for countrywide general strike against the anti-worker,
anti-people policies of Govt a massive success.
Tapan Sen
General
Secretary CITU
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