NATIONWIDE SATYAGRAHA on 26TH FEBRUARY, 2015 Against Govts. Pernicious Policies Trade Unions Intensify Stir

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FORTNIGHTLY JOURNAL OF THE ALL INDIA TRADE UNION CONGRESS Vol. 73. No. 2 New Delhi Pages 20 06–20 Jan., 2015 NATIONWIDE SATYAGRAHA ON 26TH FEBRUARY, 2015 Against Govts. Pernicious Policies Trade Unions Intensify Stir The Central Trade Unions in their meetings held on tunately the Govt. has not taken any action on our 10 26th December, 2014 and 10th January, 2015 in New point charter. Proliferation of contract system of labour Delhi, reviewed the action programme of 5th December and outsourcing continues. No steps are being taken All India Protest Day and observed that it was wide- to fix need based minimum wage on updated norms spread and carried out jointly in most of the states and of 15th ILC. Scheme workers are not being accorded industrial centres. The Central Trade Unions felt that status of a worker. No attention is being paid to issues unity built at the apex level requires to be brought further like pension to all and removal of ceilings on bonus down below, specially at industry and sectoral level. gratuity and provident fund. With further offensive being unleashed after at- But it is gratifying to note that sectoral struggles in tempts to amend labour laws to give it a Pro-corporate coal, banks, insurance, state transport, electricity are tilt, the Govt. in an undem- being launched. Magnif- ocratic manner brought EXTENDED MEETING OF icent two days strike by ordinances again in respect coal workers has boosted of auction of coal blocks for AITUC SECRETARIAT the morale of the work- commercial purposes thus Available Secretariat members at AITUC Centre ers in general. The re- paving way for denational- feel that an extended neeting of AITUC Secretariat is cent decision of Central ization of coal sector. The necessary in order to prepare ourselves to combat the Govt. employees including Govt. has also re-prom- offensive of the new Govt. at the Centre. Meanwhile the Railways and Defence to ulgated the ordinance in- CTUs have given a call for Satyagraha and other forms stage March to parliament creasing the FDI limit to of action on 26th February, 2015 and discussions for in April and from thereon to 49% in Insurance sector. one day All India Protest Strike are continuing. Sectoral declare strike action is a Land acquisition law has agitations are also being planned. Besides this some very positive development. also, been changed through organizational issues like affiliation fee payment require It is in the above con- an ordinance to acquire the to be discussed. text the Central Trade land for corporate without It is therefore decided to have extended the meeting Unions in order to further the consent of the con- of the Secretariat (members of the Secretariat and State intensify joint action have cerned farmers. The Govt. General Secretaries) on 4th February, 2015 at AITUC decided to has made its intentions clear Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting will start from 11 :00 1. Support fully the to bring FDI to Railways, noon. sectoral struggles being Defence and other strategic You are, therefore, requested to participate in the planned in January, Febru- sectors. The disinvestment meeting. You may kindly book your return journey in the ary and March, 2015 of public sector is continuing night or next day. with full speed and vigour. 2. Staging Satyagraha By way of mid-term review, With new year greetings, (Civil Disobedience) allo- budget allocation to health Yours sincerely ver India on 26th Febru- ary 2015. Govt. and PSU and other social sectors has (Gurudas Das Gupta) been curtailed. MNREGA workers may adopt other General Secretary is also under attack. Unfor- Contd. on page 8 SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES Relentless battle against anti-worker Policies of the Govt. AP AITUC State Conference decides V.V.S. Murthy From Srikakulam to Chittoor Dist., workers from the essence of "Make in India" Culminating the rally all the 13 Districts of Andhra Pradesh have come to and as a mark of inauguration of the 15th conference of Tirupati to participate in the 15th Conference held on AITUC AP Council at Tirupati, a public meeting is held at 27th to 29th December 2014. They have participated Com. Ramchander Maidan (Indira Maidan); Com. P.J. in the rally organised on 27th holding red flags in their Chandra Sekhara Rao, MLC and President, presided. hands and raising slogans against Modi Government Com. Amarjit Kaur, National Secretary AITUC par- and Chandrababunaidu Govt. who have come to pow- ticipated in the meeting as a Chief Guest. er on false promises. More than 10 thousand workers Before commencement of the meeting Com. Dr. participated in the rally. In their slogans they expressed K. Narayana, Central Executive Committee Member of their anger against NDA Govt. which is taking away CPI released the book "Porubatalo AITUC Prasthanam" (March of the AITUC in the struggle path) a Telugu translation of Com. A.B. Bardan by V.V.S. Murthy who has also updated the book. Com. Narayana said that this book will be useful to the workers as a path finder. Modi in his foreign tours has promised "We will change the Labour Laws, we will provide cheap labour, come and invest in India and make in India" said Com. Amarjeet Kaur in her inaugural speech She further said, for establishing factories and establishments he promised to amend Land Acquisition Act so as to provide farm lands cheaply. In defence 49% and in Insurance sector 100% FDI is being allowed and thus weakening Public Sector. "If you invite foreign money it means pledging the sovereignty" she said. In all sectors and through out Flag hoisting by Com.Nekkanti Subbarao the country contract, scheme workers out sourcing has their hard won rights and privileges by making several became order of the day. They are paid paltry wages amendments to the Labour Laws. They shouted slogans and are being starved. BJP Govt. is acting as per the against the Govt. for inviting foreign money for exploiting dictates of Nagpur based RSS and with a budget of Rs. cheap labour in India and make huge profits, which is 6,500 bullet trains are being introduced and common Contd. on next page

Com.M.A.Gaffoor(CITU)greeting the conference 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 2 Trade Union Record Contd. from pre. page and Independent Unions and Federations have decided man or middle class people cannot afford to use them. Mass Satyagraha on 26th February 2015 discussion on They will be useful only for few rich, she said. one day Nationwide strike are continuing. Modi in this election campaign made several Com. M.A. Gaffoor, General Secretary, CITU AP promises to common man and now working over time attended the Conference and extended fraternal greet- to placate the rich. Said Dr. K. Narayana, Com. G. ings to the delegates and said if AITUC and CITU jointly Obulesu, General Secretary and Com. P.J. Chandra Sekhar Rao, MLC and President AP Council also spoke on the occasion. 15th Conference of the AITUC AP Council delegates session has started on 28th Dec. with the AITUC Flag hoisting by the senior Comrade Nekkanti Subba Rao and after that, floral tribute was paid to the Martyrs Column by the leaders and the delegates. Com. Manohar Manikyam placed before the house Audience in the Conference Homage resolution and two minute silence is observed. work together it will be easy to fight back Anti Worker, Com. Rama Naidu, President of the Reception Com- Anti Farmer and Anti People policies of the State and mittee welcomed the delegates. Central Govts., Com. Amarjeet Kaur, Chief Guest while inaugurat- Com. G. Obulesu, General Secretary placed before ing the conference castigated Modi Govt. of taking anti the house the report on the activities and struggles for people and anti worker policies and also using various achieving Rs. 15,000 as minimum wage and for abolition occasions for dividing the secular fabric of the country. and regularisation of Contract and Scheme workers unit- In Germany and England though majority are Chris- ed struggle is the only alternative he said in the report. tians the people of those Countries feel that they are Com. T. Narasimhan, President of the AITUC Tel- Germans and English but the BJP Govt. in India wants angana State Council greeted the Conference and said the people of India to be called as Hindus instead of the Govts. which came to power after making so many Indians. On one hand they placate Corporates and promises, forgot those promises and now working to MNCs, with another hand they are implementing Sangh serve the interest of Corporates and M.N.C.s and ap- Parivar Agenda. pealed to the workers to fight back these policies and achieve the just demands. The Conference passed several resolutions which include Rs. 15,000 minimum wage to scheme workers (Anganwadi, Asha, Mid day Meals etc.) and to organise a protest rally on 26th January in Vijayawada. The Conference demanded to implement the G.Os. on Medical and Municipal Contract Workers and to organise Chalo Assembly during budget session. Similarly welfare boards are to be established for Auto, Hamali Though raising slogan of Sramayeva Vijaya - no workers welfare on the lines of Building and Construc- where workers and their organisations are involved. tion Workers. Industries are allowing toxic wastes into rivers and can- 516 delegates have attended the Conference nals and marking the waters polluted and in the name and after discussion on report by many delegates, the of Swatch Bharat roads are being cleaned. If the Govt. report of the G.S. is approved unanimously. is really interested in the health of people toxic waste should not be allowed to flow into rivers she said. While The Conference elected 151 members to the 70 per cent of municipal workers are taken an contract State Council and 51 Members to the Working Com- basis, how you can expect 100 percent cleanliness, she mittee, Com. P.J. Chandra Sekhara Rao, MLC as Hon. questioned the rulers. President Com. Chalasani Rama Rao as President, Com. G. Obulesu as General Secretary and Com. R. We there foreshould invite the new year with new Ravindranath as Dy. General Secretary and others struggles and expect each and every worker, should elected as Office Bearers. take part in those struggles. All the Central Trade Unions

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 3 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES Kerala State Conference of AITUC A Grand Success R.Prasad 16th State conference of AITUC Kerala was held at sectors. In addition to the workers cause union took part Thissur from 11 to 14 December 2014. Conference a series of social and environmental issues. Delegates started at 10 am on 11 December by the flag hoisting representing various unions actively participated in 4 by the senior most trade union leader com. Paraman. day long discussions. The issues of migrant, agriculture, Inaugural session was presided over by AITUC state coir. fisheries,construction, toddy,plantation workers president C.A.Kurian and national working president H. and workers of the special economic zones, IT, new generation banks and public sector undertakings were discussed. After the discussion the report was adopted unanimously. 122 resolutions were passed. Leaders of the Kissan Sabha, Mahila Sangham, AIYF and AISF also addressed the delegates. The delegate session ended on 14/12/2014 by unanimously elect- ing Kanam Rajendran as president, J.Udayabhanu as working president and K.P.Rajendran as general secretary. Vazhoor Soman, Kuttiyanik- kaduMadhu, P.K.Krishnan, P.Vijayamma, K.V.Krishnan, Mahadevan inaugurated the conference. The leaders P.Subramanyan,K.C.Jayapalan,K.S.Indusekaran of different trade unions were invited to attend the inau- Nair. Thavam Balkrishnan, K.G.Pankajakshan as vice gural function. CITU state general secretary Elamaram presidents and M.Sujanapriyan, T.J.Anjalose, K.P.San- Kareem, BMS president M.P.Bhargavan STU state pres- karadas, P.Raju,A.N.Rajan,V.B.Binu, G.Soman, H.Ra- ident Ahmed Kutty Unnikulam, H.M.S general secretary jeevan,Vijayan Kunisseri, Mallika as secretaries and M.K.Kannan, Aiutuc president C.K.Lukkose, TUCI gener- M.B.Vidyadharan as treasurer. al secretary M.K.Thankappan, SEWA general secretary Sonia George,T.U.C.C president K.R.Brahmanundan, There were two seminars; one was regarding the spoke on the occasion and reiterated the importance of medical policy and public health, eminent and dedi- trade union unity. Welcome and the vote of thanks were cated medical practitioner and former vice-chancellor delivered by K.K. Valsaraj and Chandran respectively. Dr.B.Iqbal presented a very informative and authentic The inaugural session of the conference became a his- speech and reminded the active and progressive role toric event of trade union unity. taken by C.K.Chandrappan during the parliamentary debates on patent law amendments. Another seminar The delegate’s elected steering committee, presidium, on planning and development in globalization era was resolution, credential and minitues committees.AITUC presented by Dr.Prabhath Patnaik, prominent economist state general secretary Kanam Rajendran presented and former vice chairman of Kerala state planning board. the report. The report was comprehensive and having He explained the formation of the planning board in India the details of the progress of the trade union movement and the importance of planning in attaining the goal of and the unity of workers in Kerala. It explained the in- democracy, secularism and socialism, envisaged in our ternational, National and Kerala political scenario. The constitution. He asserted that by demolishing the plan- report claimed that due to the dedicated work of ning board central government is trying to change the the state council and the leadership after the 15th basic structure of the nation to surrender every sector conference at Alapuzha on 2011, there is an increase to multinational corporations. There was a cultural event of more than 3 lakh membership in the AITUC. The participated by writers, artists and poets. As a new initi- organisation is active in the industrial and traditional Contd. on next page 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 4 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES Historic Strike by 5 lakh Tea Workers in West Bengal Com. Chitta Dey, General Secretary, West Bengal Cha Sramik Union

After the expiry of the Tripartite Wage Agreement on rate of 6% (six percent) in these years. Speedy growth 31st March 2014 of 4/5 Lakhs of Tea Garden Workers of production also seen in Vietnam, China, Kenya, Sri organized by the Co-ordination Committee of Tea Plan- Lanka and in India to stabilize the Tea-market. From tation workers with its newly emerged “United Forum” of 2007 to 2014 years the Tea prices in domestic sphere all operating trade unions in Tea Sector in the districts and in the Export-markets increased at a time and of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Terai areas, along with Parts the Profit A/c happened to being boost up. So, under of Uttar Dinajpur, Dist. and Dist. Coochbehar demanded this particular back-drop the million of tea workmen’s unitedly under one “Voice” the immediate introduction demand for structural-minimum wages with D.A. which of Minimum Wages as per Minimum Wages Act and are most sought-after entitlement to the toiling workers Rules (1948) for entire tea industry of West Bengal. and to their helpless families. Indian families are moving Seven tripartite conciliation meetings took place near forward for their large planned programmes for a better, Siliguri (Darjeeling Dist) of W.B. without any honora- more prosperous life for all her people. In Industry the ble settlement between Union’s, tea planters and the authority is developing high productivity, which will grow Labour Department of Govt. of West Bengal. Hence in large part out of harmony in Labour -management re- under compulsion Lakhs of Tea workmen resorted lations, which in turn, depends on mutual understanding to services of peace demonstrations, Factory- Gate of each side’s problems. meetings including Launching of ‘Historic-Strike” by In the scenario of emerging trends of marked growth the workers and the People of the aforesaid Districts of Tea Industry in all counts and, sharp deterioration of on 11th Nov./ 12th Nov.2014 in showing an exemplary livelihoods of millions of workmen in every sphere in spirit to extend support by the citizens of North Ben- Northern Tea growing region pertaining to the States of gal. As per our assessment of the total movements West Bengal and Assam in particular which contribute by Tea working-class and masses of the people on recent strike-actions in Northern Districts which are more than 75% of the tea-production of the country. memorable to everybody of this region and this is the Obviously the Unions, workers are agitated seriously 2nd time the massive strike for 48 hours by workers in for the non-implementation of following demands which comparison to another Historic-Strike resorted to by are legitimate, justified, lawful and right of the workers Lakhs of Tea garden workers of North Tea areas for in TEA (a) Subscribed Housing scheme for workers, 18 days continually there in the year of 1969. Now on (b) Minimum wages must be paid to all workers of the these above Facts and circumstances whole matters country (c) Medical facilities with Hospitalization (d) involving workers, Industry, Planters and State Govt’s Safety against use of hazardous chemicals and pesti- policies must be examined on a new perception, ‘which cides (e) Extending social benefits to the workers. For would be very relevant for Present days also for future the issue of wages which is below the subsistence level struggle by Trade Unions. It is reported authentically to-day among all schedule employment in organized from top-most corners of commerce and industry and Industries and act as sole cause of multiple distresses from Tea Board that in the years 2012 and 2013 Pro- of the workmen is urgently required to be implemented duction of Tea Faced an increased ratio of 5.67 million ‘on war-footing through the process of Final agreement tons average in all tea producing countries. Black Tea, acceptable to the millions of down- trodden working. Green Tea and instant tea production had an increased Force in Tea Industry immediately.

Contd. from pre. page retary Com.Gurudas Das Gupta. KanamRajendran, ative three books were published in the conference by K.E.Ismail, C.N.Jayadevan, K.K.Valsaraj,V.S.Sunilkumar, the trade union publication. K.Rajan,M.M.Paraman, Geeta Gopi, A.N.Rajan, K.G. On the last day of the conference ie, on 14 December Sivanandan also spoke and newly elected state general 2014 there was a massive rally in the evening showing secretary K.P.Rajendran presided over the meeting. The the strength of the working class. The conference and conference decided to conduct massive campaigns to the rally were concluded with a public meeting. The protect the public sector and the traditional sectors of public meeting was inaugurated by the general sec- the state.

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 5 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES 18th Conference of Tamil Nadu AITUC - REPORT

The 18 th Conference of TamilNadu AITUC was Com Sukumaran, general secretary of CITU TN held in Theni for two days, on 27th and 28th December. State, Com N K Natarajan, President TN AICCTU Though held in a simple manner, the conference indeed had evoked tremendous response among the participants and the workers across the state for the intense note that it had carried. The attacks of BJP Government on the Indian democracy, its pluralistic culture and the brazen drive against the hard won rights of the workers were the central theme of the conference. The conference gave a call to fight tooth and nail against the communal and corporate governance of BJP and to strengthen AITUC to confront the challenges hurled against the working class of this country. The Town of Theni, a small but active district unit of TNAITUC needs a reference here for its meticulous preparations that fecilitated smooth proceedings. Inaugural session was preceded with hoisting of 17 flags by senior workers and leaders, men and women, to signify the earlier conferences. Com V and Com Anavaradan President TN AIUTUC greeted Ramachandran, Vice President TNAITUC and General the conference. Leaders from the fraternal mass or- Secretary of Electricity Workers Federation hoisted ganizations also greeted the inaugural session. Com the conference flag among thunderous sloganeering N periasamy from BKMU, Com Padmavathy NFIW, of AITUC ZINDABAD. Com Gananam Rajendiran, Com BalaMurugan from AIYF, and from the industry Secretary AITUC and General Secretary Kerala AITUC level unions- Com Kalpana Rajkumar from GIEU, Com declared open the conference. His address in Malay- Pattabiraman from NFTE,Com Uma Selvaraj from TN- alam was heard in rapt attention. In spite of the fact Government Employees Union also shared their best that Malayalam is the language of the neighbouring wishes. state, the commonness of the issues and the gravity of Com Gurudas Dasgupta, General Secretary AITUC the situation had apparently crept into the minds of the could join the conference only in the afternoon due to audience in the open session. K Subbarayan, President the delay in his flight timings. In the most typical tone of TNAITUC presided over the inaugural session and Com genuine concern and unequivocal determination, Cpm Thangam, Theni District Secretary of CPI and Chairman Gurudas Dasgupta dwelt with atmost seriousness the of the Reception Committee welcomed the gathering. unprecedented challenges that await India as a secular democratic republic. He began hitting the nail on the head- the communal frenzy of the groups emboldened with Modi as the Prime Minister and the perpetration of communal hatred that threatens to divide the workers. With all due respects to Gita, he questioned if India as a secular country could undermine the Quran,theBible and the Guru Granth Sahip. Communalism, Com Gu- rudas voiced in unmincing terms, has to be fought with every nerve. In his precise and choicest vocabulary Com gurudas berated the Modi government for its outright reach to cater to the needs of the corporate. BJP Government Contd. on next page

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 6 Trade Union Record Contd. from pre. page Vice President TNAITUC and TN State Secretary of CPI, in his address lambasted at the deliberate communal with Modi as its Prime Minister cannot bring about any agenda of the BJP government. “It is equal to provoking change to the rising poverty, joblessness, inflation, and justifying murder”, he echoed making a scathing at- price rise and all these ills that the UPA 2 Government tack on the rhetorics of the BJP leaders to install statues also had failed to grapple with, because the political of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. philosophy of the BJP is tilted towards extreme right He dwelt on the reproachful and unfriendly policies of and these would only further intensify the evils rather the BJP government towards its neighbouring countries than bring about any change for good. and held that peace at the borders is disturbed because The unhindered move of the government to amend of these policies. Making a serious reference to the the labour laws to the favour of big business and corpo- anti worker policies of the government, Com Pandian rate is an affront against the workers across the country. insisted that the Indian working class alone, through its The policies of disinvestment, privatization and market ideological struggles can defeat the designs of the BJP liberalization are only government, sought to be intensi- Com R Nallakannu, fied by this government AIDEF Meets freedom fighter and that is voted to power The National Executive Committee of the AIDEF in its the most prominent for a change. With the meeting held on 12th of January, 2015 has noted with deep and respected leader BJP Government in concern that inspite of the assurances given by the Ministry of of CPI honoured the the center, India is at Defence to the Federations in the Strike Negotiations Meeting veteran trade unionists the very cross roads, held on 06.02.2014 and 12.11.2014, the major demands of in an exclusive session with the twin swords the Defence Civilian Employees like Government’s decision to for that purpose. While of communalism on allow 49% FDI in Defence Industries against the interest / of dwelling at length at the one side and the our Government Defence Industries like Ordnance Factories, government of the cor- DRDO, DGQA, EME Workshops and other Establishments un- the sacrifices made by porate on the other der Army, Navy and Air Force and the provisions in DPP-2013 the leaders, Com Na- aiming to slice out the which effects the future of the Government Defence Industries llakannu said that the country into pieces nur- remaining unsettled. lives of these leaders and the objectives to- turing communal ha- 1. Withdrawal of the New Pension Scheme/exemption of wards which they tread- tred among the working Defence Civilian Employees from the New Pension Scheme. class. ed should illumine our 2. Stop all types of outsourcing / contract and regularize all path of struggles too. This is the biggest the existing contract / casual workers. challenge, Com Guru- The conference 3. Fillup all the post lying vacant in all the Defence Estab- das Dasgupta recapit- elected a council of lishments and restoration of the posts abolished under ADRP ulated. Yet, Com Guru- 131 members. Com K in Ordnance Factories, MES, DGQA and other Defence Estab- das said in reassuring subbaran, Com T M lishments. terms, not all is lost. Murthy and Com Ravi Indian working class 4. Remove 5% ceiling on compassionate appointment. have been reelected to has to reassign itself The National Executive Committee of the AIDEF having the posts of President, its responsibility to save reviewed the progress on the Charter of Demands has noted General Secretary and the country. He exhort- with grave concern that all-out peaceful efforts made” by the Deputy General Secre- ed the participants to Federations through dialogue with the MoD have failed to tary respectively. The understand the severity yield desired positive results in respect of the above Charter conference ended with and seriousness of the of Demands. The National Executive Committee of the All In- a befitting tone of strug- situation and strength- dia Defence Employees’ Federation authorizes the President gke with the state trans- en AITUC to fight the and General Secretary to further discuss the situation with the port workers launching devilish forces. He em- INDWF and BPMS and decide further course of joint action on an indefinite strike phasized his typical re- for realizing the Charter of Demands. The National Executive action demanding frain,” Fight to live, live Committee directs the Affiliated Unions to stress all the above wage increase amoing to fight and progress demands in their Gate Meetings and other forms of local agi- others, The strike was with struggles. tations, so as to put pressure on the Government to settle the total and successful. Com D Pandian, outstanding demands.

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 7 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES TCS Terminations - How to respond AITUC Supports Unionisation Satyanand, AITUC Bangalore The IT Employees Centre, an organisation for IT case of unfair terminations in TCS is not a one-off employees in Bangalore organised a Panel Discussion in nature, rather the first of many such exercises that on the subject “TCS Terminations – How to respond”. employers will resort to. Individuals cannot fight the Additional Labour Commissioner, Representatives from might of the employers in the current situation. Em- ployees have a constitutionally guaranteed right to organise into Unions. Forming a Union is legal and a right of employees. Infact it is noteworthy that the employers have realised the true value of organisation and have combined effectively in a behemoth by the name of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) to lobby actively for Labour law exemptions. It is therefore imperative for employees to a) Organise and collectively fight issues b) Actively lobby with the State for the application of labour laws AITUC and CITU were invited to the Panel Discus- sion. Com.Vijaybhaskar (Secretary, Karnataka State c) Engage with the wider section of the working Council) and Com Satyanand (Secretary, Bangalore class and District Council) participated in the discussion. Com d) Engage in a public debate about the unfair labour Satyanand spoke about the labour intensive nature of practices of the IT industry. work, the unnaturally high rate of profits in the Industry that drive employers to resort to unfair labour practices. Do not Equate Science With Com Vijaybhaskar spoke at length about the “identity Mythology – IDPD reaction on Indian crisis” of the IT workforce on their reluctance to identify Science Congress deliberations themselves with the working class and fight such issues collectively. He also brought to notice the strength of the Dr Arun Mitra, General Secretary Employers organisation by the example of NASSCOM. The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development Ignorance of the employees about their rights is Bliss for (IDPD) has in a statement expressed dismay on the the employers. He concluded by urging the employees deliberations in the Indian Science Congress lauding that Unionisation is the only cure to tackle such issues. scientific feats of ancient India that interplanetary air- crafts existed in India 9000 years back. This is negating Super Profits: The big three (TCS, Infosys and the very theory of evolution. Dr L S Chawla President WIPRO) continue to grow at 20% to 30% with profit IDPD said that we give due respect to various beliefs margins in the range 25% to 30% for over 15 years. but science cannot be equated with mythology. Ours These growth rates and rates of profit cannot continue is a country of rich traditions and values which have indefinitely. These are abnormal rates of profit tobe to be carried forward. We have much to learn from expected from any sector of the Industry. In the manu- them to preserve our ecology and biodiversity. Dr Arun facturing a profit margin of 5% is considered great, so Mitra General Secretary said that statement by some is the case in Banking. It is important to understand that scientists mixing science and mythology is extremely these rates of profit for the Indian IT companies are disappointing. There is no such evidence, historical abnormal even in comparison with say Global giants or archaeological, to prove that science in India was such as IBM Services or Accenture. that much advanced in India thousands of year back. Importance of Employee Organisations/ Neither there is any evidence of any deluge that might Unions in IT : Employees in the IT industry cannot have completely destroyed the achievements of that remain at the sole mercy of Employers, this present period.

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 8 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES Tamil Nadu Transport Workers Strike at a Glance S. Gajendran, Treasurer The 12th Wage Settlement of TamilNadu Transport gate meetings throughout. The state, Regional wise Workers is due on 1.9.2013. Our federation has submit- Demonstration Corporations wise Conference have ted the Wage Demand to the Government on 7.8.2013. been conducted demanding the Govt. to start the Likewise other Trade Union have also submitted their wage Negotiations talks. Inspite of all these there is no wage demand separately during the month of Aug 2013. response from Govt. even after the lapse of 3 Months The Labour progressive federation (LPF), Recog- from the date of submission of common Demand. nised Unions has submitted the wage Demand and On 2.12.2014 the Joint action committee has con- requested the government to start the wage negotiation ducted a state wide special Conference at Tricy in which talks with them. But the AIDMK government is not pre- 2000 workers have been participated and declared the pared to negotiate with them and dragging the issues indefinite strike from 29.12.2014. Accordingly the strike for more than a year. This is because of the political notice has been given on 5.12.2014 Govt. has not re- rivalary between DMK and AIDMK. sponded for this also. This is created an emotion among Our Federation has conducted continuous for move- the workers and the strike bursted before one day i.e ments specially a massive Dharna with thousands of on 28.12.2014 itself Government has taken drastic workers on 7.7.14 at Chennai demanding the Govt. to action to broke the strike. Thousands of workers were start the wage Negotiations with all unions. The others arrested. Operating of vehicles were totally struck down. Trade unions also demanded the Govt. to start the wage Then the govt. has invited 11TUS + ATP union through Negotiations with all unions. The others Trade Unions special Dy. Commissioner of Labour for Conciliation. also demanded the Govt. to start this wage Negotiation The Conciliation held 3 days on 26, 27 and 30.12.2014 talks immediately by conducting their own Type of Trade with spl. Dy Commissioner of labour. Unions Movement. Even after the lapse of 15 months On 31.12.2014 the Honourable Minister of Transport (till Dec. 2014) No action is taken by the Government of TamilNadu has invited the TUs for Discussions in this to start the wage Negotiations Talks with Trade unions. regard. During the Meeting the Minister has agreed. In the above circumstance, the recognised LPF To form a Committee for holding talks with TU repre- union initiated to form a Joint action committee consist- sentative and it would be constituted within a day or two ing of all unions. Accordingly, a Joint action Committee To set free employees arrested during the strike consisting of II Trade unions such as LPF, CITU, AITUC, besides taking steps to release these employees facing INTUC, HMS and other local Trade Unions is formed. the changes In the 1st Joint action committee meeting held on Disciplinary action 24.8.2014 the LPF unions would not be taken against has declared that they are Road Transport Workers the employees who took ready to forego the Rec- Planning Strike part in the strike. ognition right provided the Joint meeting of National Level Road Transport On the Basis of the Govt. has to start the wage Sector Organizations and independent State Level Negotiations with all unions. above assurances given Road Transport Workers Organizations will be held by the Honble Minister of A common Demands on 6.2.2015 at 11.00a.m in central office of BMS, New Transport the TU called off have been prepared by the Delhi to decide the date of one day National strike by the strike from 11.00 am on above Trade Unions and nearly 10 lakh State Road Transport workers during 31.12.2014. submitted to government on first week on march 2015 and work out other details 5-9-2014 (the ruling party in this respect. Not more than three competent repre- The Central Trade un- ATP union was also invited sentatives from each above organization will attend ions and the political Par- ty leaders of TamilNadu to prepare the common the aforesaid meetings. Venue for the meeting is as have supported this work- Demand. But they have below. not responded). After the ers struggle only because Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Dattopant Thengadi submission of Common of united forums struggle Bhawan, 27, Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi Demand continuous TU TamilNadu Transport work- Movement such as Depot Contact: Shiv Kumar Sharma, Vice President, ers achieved the success.

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 9 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES COAL STRIKE-A GLORIOUS STRIKE G.L. Dhar Nearly 7 lakh coal workers in the country in various played important role in the strike. There were some Collieries embarked on 5 days strike on 6th January who criticized calling off the strike. But workers know 2015. The strike was mainly against privatisation that the calling off the strike was right step. After Govt. of coal mines particularly Ordinance issued by the yielded to negotiate and agreed to set up a committee Govt. permitting commercial coal mining. The strike which will include labour to settle the demands it would was called by AITUC, INTUC, BMS, HMS and CITU. have been folly to continue strike. The strike was almost total The strike crippled coal in all Collieries all over production, coal dispatch the country except at few and other activities gravely places. The coal production affecting power production. was badly hit, adversely This forced Govt. to nego- effecting power plants tiate. After prolonged nego- making them critical. A few tiation, a committee of the State Govts. ruled by BJP representatives of the CTUs, like Jharkhand, Maharashtra and management was con- etc. let loose repression stituted to discuss thoroughly on striking workers where the demands of the workers striking workers were brutally Coal Strike-Solidarity: Vizag Steel Plant All Unions and make recommendations lathicharged and arrested. made a Dharna to Support Coal Unions Strike to the Govt. at an early date. The strike was against Govts. The unions were told that Policies of neo-liberal economism. It was a frontal there will be no privatization of Coal India & victimization. opposition to the policies of Modi Govt., and dictates More strikes are in the offing challenging Govts. of the corporate. Policies of neo-liberal economism. Nearly 10 lakh State The strike has inspired not only lakhs of coal work- Road Transport workers employed in State Road Trans- ers but also millions of workers all over the country in port Undertakings all over the country are planning to other sectors. It was a grand and mighty action. It has organize nationwide strike in March 2015 against Govts boosted morale of the workers all over the country. This .new Bill-Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 which strike has given a big jolt to the Govt. On the other hand will enable Central Govt. to privatize to SRTUs. All the it has given big confidence to millions of workers in those Federations of the workers affiliated to various CTUs sectors of economy/industry who are facing similar are meeting on 6.2.2015 at Delhi to fix the date of strike. challenges. The unity of lakhs of coal workers and their successful strike action has made the issue a matter of In the meanwhile, all unions/associations includ- public discourse. It may have hurt the arrogance and ing those of officers in BSNL (Telecom) have united & pride of the Ministers who dominate the Govt. Apart formed a Joint Forum and have decided to organize a from Communist Party of India, the other left parties & MARCH TO PARLIAMENT ON 25.2.2015 and INDEF- political parties like Janta Dal (S), Janta Dal (U), RJD, Contd. from page 1: Nationwide Satyagraha... S.P. etc. publically support the strike. The Govt. was isolated. The BMS condemned Govt. as telling lies to suitable forms of protest action. rule the country. 3. Continue discussion for one day All India Protest During the heroic strike the whole of the working Strike" people including middle class sympathized with the State Constituents are directed to prepare jointly strike. They felt that the Modi Govt. was mismanaging for 26th February Satygraha action. We appeal to Inde- economy as was being done by the UPA Govt. rather pendent employees/workers/ unions and federations to more aggressively. Even pro-BJP organizations felt that participate in the protest action against the offensive of the Govt. deserved to be told that they were doing as the Govt. against workers and common people. badly as UPA. BMS INTUC AITUC HMS CITU The positive development was that on the whole the movement and the workers have gone forward. AITUC AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU UTUC LPF 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 10 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES Trade Unions for elimination of Child labour A report by M. Sivanaga Malleswari Convenor, Telangana Working Women Forum

The three day workshop held on 15-17 December from different countries the following facts were revealed 2014 at Yogyakarta, Indonesia to provide a forum for about labour law coverage for domestic workers (Global trade unions, domestic workers’ organisations and figures 2010):- other stakeholders to discuss and share innovative 1 0 % are covered by general labour laws to the approaches to reduce child domestic labour through same extent as other workers; In Asia and Pacific: Only the promotion of decent work for domestic workers to 3% covered; 30% excluded from any labour legislation; discuss strategies for supporting the ratification and 45% have no right to one day off per week. In A/P: 97 implementation of ILO C189: identifying the strengths, %; Over 56 % no normal weekly hours limit. In A/P: gaps and needs of the various countries (including in 99%; 42% excluded from minimum wage coverage. In relation to legal protection, research on wages, working A/P: 88 %; More than one third excluded from maternity hours, OSH, skills) and discussing ways and means protection. of strengthening trade union capacity and regional Weekly hours of work by region are as follows:- cooperation was attended by M. Sivanaga Malleswari Developed Countries -17 %; Europe and CIS -45%; from AITUC. Asian & Pacific - 99%; Latin America -23%; Africa -15%; 25 persons representing 12 trade unions from Middle East -100%; China, Hong Kong, SAR, India, Indonesia, Republic of The Domestic Work is among the lowest paid work Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and in any labour market. It is undervalued and has under Vietnam participated in the meeting. compensation. The perception of domestic workers is Discussions were held on objective setting by revis- that it is care giving and is unproductive’ women’s work iting the key content of ILO Convention No.189 overall outside the labour market. The workers asserted that and its relevance in pushing forth policy decisions. This washing clothes and preparing food is productive work was also for update on Convention No.189 in the regions when performed at home no less than when done in such as South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia. the laundry or the restaurant. In a panel discussion on Child domestic labour M. The perception that domestic workers are unpro- Sivanaga Malleswari from AITUC also presented a pa- ductive leads to many abusive wage practices, incom- per. The discussion was to have a clear understanding plete, delayed or no payment. of what constitutes effective legislation and policy on The workshop helped in sharing experience and to domestic work and child domestic labour and to map know the working and wage conditions including to know the progress on minimum age for employment, working upto what extent general labour laws are being applied time, wage policies and social security mechanisms on them. How the organizing campaign and agitation that has been made so far to achieve this and special for their demands is delivering some favourable results. session for sharing experiences of Domestic Workers Organisations was organized. The workshop resolved that child domestic labour must be abolished and unions will work for that. Domestic workers are vulnerable the participants said as the discrimination of domestic workers (DWs) based on sex, race, ethnicity and social origin (rural migrants). They are the traditionally not seen as “real workers as it concerns women working in the homes of others. They work in isolation “behind closed doors” The migrant workers have precarious recruitment processes & working conditions. There is pronounced power imbalance between domestic workers and their employers and they themselves are not familiar with applicable laws. They lack collective organization & representation. Telengana Medical Employees Union presented From the reports presented by various orgaisations Memorandum to State Minister 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 11 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATES LEVEL ACTIVITIES Goa AITUCs New Year resolve Christopher Fonseca, General Secretary-AITUC (GOA) The Goa State Committee of All India Union Con- In meanwhile, the Governments has failed to crub gress (AITUC) Welcomes the new year and salutes the raging inflation. The prices of good items and other the people right across the State and wishes them essential commodities continue to rise, unchecked. The eventful, meaningful and happy days everyday of the lives of the common and working people have been year. The AITUC also joins the Millions of people of rendered not only difficult but also wholly insecure. good will throughout the Country and the world and The labour relations scenario in Goa is also deteri- has resolved to committedly work for justice, equity oratior day-by-day. Workers are forced to come on the and peace for all. roads. They are compelled to resort to strikes, protest We denounce the communal and fundamentalist due to the anti-labour policies of the employers who forces which are trying to trample and suffocate the are in collusion with Government instrumentalities. The freedom of speech and expression, art and culture. The year, 2014 has witness a spate of avoidable strikes and insinuation, false propaganda and the shrill cries to ban demonstrations throughout this tiny State. The working the instructive film, PK which has the versatile actor Amir people are under the constant threat of losing their Khan in its lead cast is a live example. jobs. The pathetic Minimum Wages in the State of Goa We denounce the BJP led Narendra Modi Govern- have not been revised since March, 2013 inspite of the ment as well as well as the BJP Governments in some worsening effects of inflation on the lives of the people. states for undermining and wiping out the hard won- AITUC has resolved that the year, 2015 would be Rights and safeguards of the citizens and the working the year of struggles to protect the Rights and the inter- people by enacting anti-working class and pro-employer est of all the working people in Goa. For the AITUC, the legislations by resorting to subterfuge and undemocratic year 2015 will be a year of struggles for Human Rights, methods. fair living wages, safe and dignified work environment During the last seven (7) months, the BJP led Gov- and human service conditions to all the toilers. ernment of Narendra Modi at the centre has brought out A detailed Memorandum highlighting the problems a slew of ordinances solely to empower the Corporate of the working people in Goa is under submission to the Houses and Multinational companies thus downgrad- Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar. We will ing and undermining parliamentary democracy. This seek his urgent and immediate intervention to resolve Government has dealt a body blow to the interest of the issues highlighted in the Memorandum. the Common man and the working people in the name AITUC and its fraternal Trade Unions have also of “Labour reforms” and “Make in India” campaign. The decide to hold a protest demonstration on Monday, ordinance on land acquisition to favour the corporate 05th January, 2015 at Patto, Panjim before Shramshakti is an example of the NDA Government’s high handed Bhavan, the Office of the Labour Commissioner Gov- policy. The Modi promise of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” ernment of Goa, to highlight the various of the working is turning out to be a hollow one. people in Goa. Indefinite Strike in BSNL The BSNL Unions/Association have formed a Joint purchase of equipment as assured at the time of cor- Forum in order to save BSNL from being made sick and poratisation. They are preparing for massive March to eventually privatized. They Parliament on 25.2.2015 have formulated a Charter and Indefinite Strike of Demands which in- from 17.3.2015 the joint cludes financial assistance forum comprises of all to BSNL for doing work unions owing affiliation to in remote areas which is CTU’s or even those who socially desirable but eco- are friendly. The officers nomically not viable. unions are also part of For expansion of Joint Forum and will join services/network and for strike

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 12 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES Manipur AITUC on the move Mass Campaign of AITUC A.Shartchandra Singh All India Trade Union Congress, Moreh Area Com- was attended by different communities of India viz., mittee, Manipur was held at Moreh which is the border Tamil, Biharis, Muslims and Tribal Community of Ma- area of India and Myanmar on 6th January,2015 at Hill nipur etc. Speaking during the convention, General Tribal Council Conference Hall, Moreh with Comrade Secretary, L. Sotinkumar highlighted on 10 demands. L. Sotinkumar, General Secretary, AITUC Manipur, He demanded to get Rs. 15000/- per month as wages Comrade S. Mate, President AITUC Moreh Area for the labours, to issue BPL Cards for each and every Committee and Comrade Kh. Gyaneswor Secretary, labours, to increase the loading and unloading charges TUCC Manipur, Smt. Y. Indrani Devi President, Working of labour by 30% within one month, to set up a night Women Forum Manipur, Pandey Munshi, President of shelter at Moreh Town for labours. He also demanded Indo-Myanmar Labours Society, Moreh which is affiliat- to use the members of Indo-Myanmar Labour Socie- ed to AITUC Manipur respectively in the Dais as Chief ty, Moreh for loading and unloading of rice and other Guest, President and Guest of Honours respectively. PDS items which is exported from Myanmar by FCI The mass campaign was attended by leaders of various Department. Labours Union and Self-help group members. The mass campaign was concluded with thanks The Convention was a unique programme which from the Organising Committee.

NATION WIDE SATYAGRAHA ON 26-2-2015 The Central Trade Unions in order to further intensify joint action have decided to 1. Support fully the sectoral struggles being planned in January, February and March, 2015 2. Staging Satyagraha (Civil Disobedience) allover India on 26th February 2015. Govt. and PSU workers may adopt other suitable forms of protest action. 3. Continue discussion for one day All India Protest Strike" State Constituents are directed to prepare jointly for 26th February Satygraha action. We appeal to Inde- pendent employees/workers/ unions and federations to participate in the protest action against the offensive of the Govt. against workers and common people.

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 13 Trade Union Record SECTOR/STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES CONSTRUCTION WORKERS DHARANA BEFORE DY. LABOUR COMMISSIONER OFFICE Patna- Nirman Kamgaar Union an affiliate of AITUC organized massive dharna Programme before the office of Dy. Commissioner of Patna Commissioner Com.Naryana Purbey Sec. of Bihar AITUC and national Secretary of All India Confed- eration of Building and construction Workers (AITUC) blamed that Bihar Building and construction workers welfare board is under grip of Govt. & bureaucrats. He alleged that fund of board are being misused and Construction workers are not being paid the benefits of pension and family pension, maternity benefits, accident Compensation, medical, foods kit and other defined benefits. The union submitted 10 points charter of demands to Dy.L.C. A five man delegation Com. Chetanandan Saheb Paswan, Mukesh Kumar, Promod Kumar, Promod Kumar Nandan & Smt. Rukmini Devi meet with Dy. L.C. and expressed their anger regarding function of welfare should be given notified benefits of welfare accident compensation Rs.50,000/- Death benefits 15000, education relief Rs.1200, Maternity benefits Rs. 1000, Marriage aid Rs. 2000 and for treatment Rs. 30000 yearly.

INTERNATIONAL XII World Congress of Trade Unions of Public Service Employees and Allied February 13-14 2015 , Kathmandu - Nepal The Trade Union International (TUI) of Public And the working class in general. Allied Employees, the World Federation of Trade Unions The XII World Congress of Trade Unions of Workers -WFTU- and the militant trade union organizations CONEP in Public Services and Allied will be aiming to analyze the and NEGEO of Nepal call all WFTU affiliated and friendly situation the public sector workers all over the world are unions of the public services sector to take part in the XII facing and define actions towards the organization and World Congress of Trade Unions of Public Service Employ- their unified action. ees and Allied, that will be held on February 13 – 14 2015. Public service workers of the world face critical difficul- TECHNICAL ISSUES ties and challenges. The anti labor policies implemented • The Congress will take place on February 13 -14 by capitalist governments, the policies of cuts in state 2015 (arrival on Feb 12, latest departures on Feb 15). expenditure, the privatization of public services and key • Registration to the following emails: info@wftucen- sectors of the economy are invariably conducted at the tral.org ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; expense of the workers and the people. The privatizations [email protected] ; [email protected] in various countries have resulted in deterioration of public • The host organization will cover accommodation, services, rising of the costs associated with them, as well meals, airport pickup and local transports. as to the loss of sovereign control of fundamental strategic • NO AIRTICKETS WILL BE COVERED. sectors for the countries’ social and economic development. They have also marked the deterioration and loss • Delegates who need visa to visit Nepal must start of workers' and union rights of public service employees, preparing their trip on time and provide the organizers with in the general context of the anti-labor offensive against all necessary data needed to support their visa application Fraternal greetings, George Mavrikos Sebastiao Soares Lulamite Sotaka NEGEO WFTU General Secretary General Secretary of TUI President of TUI

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 14 Trade Union Record AITUC Stand on Amendment to the Employees Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 This has reference to the Office Memorandum dated ganization nominating the representative should be 17th December, 2014 on the subject mentioned above retained as the proposed change dilutes the right which was received by us on 30th December, 2014. of the organization to nominate representative of We had vide our letter dated 31.12.2014 submitted that its choice. we will be sending our views on the proposed amend- AITUC also opposes proviso to the section dealing ments by 10th January, 2015. Accordingly our views/ with contributions and matters which may be provided comments to the proposed amendments to Employees for in schemes. Reducing or waiving the contribution Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 payable may adversely affect the old age protection of are as under: such class of employees. Moreover, introducing such a AITUC in general welcomes the amendments relat- proviso may enable the employers to build up case for ing to deletion of Schedule-I of the Act (Section 1(3)(a), reducing or waiving contribution to be paid by them and making the application of the Act to every establishment at later stage to press for giving option to each employ- in which 10 or more workers are employed in place of ee whether to remain member of EPF scheme or not. the existing threshold limit of 20 workers (Section 1(3) AITUC also opposes proviso proposed to be added (b). AITUC appreciates the lowering of threshold limit to Section 7A limiting the determination of moneys due of workers for applicability of the Act from 20 to 10 as a from employers in respect of period beyond five years step towards application of the Act to an establishment from the date on which contribution shall become pay- employing even a single worker as social security is able. Putting a limit to a default is unjustified. Similarly a common and universal requirement of each worker. proviso proposed to be added to Section 7CC (7) re- AITUC also appreciates the change in definition of wage quires to be deleted as giving discretion to the Appellate to make it more simple and in line with the definition Officer to reduce further the depositing of 50% to 25% is of wage as in Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 unreasonable. Likewise proviso in Section 7(O) should (Section 2(b). also be deleted. However, we are opposed to reducing the num- The above are our views/comments to the proposed ber of workers representatives to the Central Board amendments in the EPF&MP Act and we request that of Trustees (Section 5A) from ten to five and also these may kindly be considered while finalizing the the proposed amendment (5A(2) restricting the proposed amendments. We would also request that member representing employees and employer the Central Trade Unions may also be given a hear- in the Board to only two terms consecutively. The ing by way of meeting a before finalize the proposed existing provisions of leaving the same to the or- amendments. Construction Workers to Hold March to Parliament The meeting of the All India Confederation of Build- health, sanitation, shelter etc. of the vast majority of ing and Construction Workers held on 3-4 January 2015 toiling masses in the country. The real estate business, at Devangiri resolved to organize a march to Parliament land mafia, building mafia are having free hand and on the Demands of Construction Workers. receiving support from Govt. policies in all possible The meeting was inaugurated in an open session by manner at the cost of the people’s lives, she alleged. Amarjeet Kaur, Secretary, AITUC, who in her address The meeting attended by Comrades from ten states explained to them about the continuous assaults on the reviewed their activities and decide to strengthen or- labour rights of workers by Modi Govt. She said that the ganization and to expand the organization to new areas, Govt. is taking ordinance route and does not want any help workers to get ID cards and facilitate to get the discussion in Parliamentary forum. Issues of disarray benefits which are their rights as per law. and communal discourse are continuously being pushed Com.K.Ravi, General Secretary’s report was under various pretexts so as to keep the electronic adopted after discussion. The meeting was chaired media and parliament occupied with these issues only by presidium headed by Com. Vijayan Kunnissery to avoid the major question of bread butter, education, President of the Union.

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 15 Trade Union Record OPINION Governance by ordinance It is undemocratic and unconstitutional

Rajindar Sachar

I am getting more and more convinced of the truth remain valid and irreversible. This proposition is legally of the idiom attributed to Marx that “the bourgeois gov- unsound because unless Parliament passes the law by ernment is the executive committee of the Big Business endorsing the ordinance, all actions under the ordinance and industrial houses”. This is sharply brought out by would be unconstitutional. the Modi government issuing ordinances on increased The ordinance regarding the auction of coal blocks F.D.I. in insurance and coal mines the very next day after is more mischievous. I can understand that the coal Parliament adjourned, notwithstanding that it had over blocks cancelled by the Supreme Court last year have three weeks to get these Bills introduced and passed. Of to be auctioned afresh. But under the cover of re-auc- course, the B.J.P. lacks a majority in the Rajya Sabha. tioning, mischievous steps are being taken to erode the But then why did it not call for a joint session where it provisions of the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973, claims it can have a majority? That a devious game which provides that all rights/ titles in relation to coal was deliberately played by the B.J.P. in resorting to two mines shall stand vested in the Central Government. ordinances is clear from the Union Finance Minister's It also provides that no person other than the Central open declaration (even during the Parliament session) Government or a government company or a corpora- that “if the Opposition did not relent, the government tion managed or controlled by the Central Government was ready to take a joint session route”. Notwithstanding can engage in mining. I am convinced that the Union this boast, the government opted for the undemocratic Government deliberately avoided introducing the Bill in route of ordinances. the Rajya Sabha. I say this because by the ordinance It is well known that there are serious differences in the Union Government has surreptitiously and indirectly Parliament about the very motive of passing the amend- amended the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973. It ments allowing increased F.D.I. in insurance. That is knew very well that for the B.J.P. government to reopen why the insurance Bill has been held up for nearly six nationalisation by a debate in Parliament would make years. The B.J.P. ironically was the vociferous opponent it run for cover and expose it to the charge of serving in the last Lok Sabha. Since 1956, when life insurance the interest of its election fund donors. The ordinance is was nationalised by paying just Rs 5 crore to the then a half clever sly trick to bring the private sector in coal private insurance companies, the LIC has proved to be mining after a lapse of over 40 years. People in coal a gold mine for the Union Government. It has given to business have explained that the ordinance explicitly the Central government hefty amounts in recent years: allows private-public joint ventures and permits commer- Rs. 929.12 crore in 2008-09, Rs 1,030.92 crore (2009- cial mining by state government companies — activities 10), Rs 1,137.62 crore (2010-11), Rs 1,281.23 crore which the Supreme Court had said were illegal. This will (2011-12) and Rs 1,436.38 crore (2012-13). It has also benefit favourite companies of the Modi government that donated Rs. 7,000 crore for the Seventh Plan. It defies are already partnered by state government companies logic why in such a situation the Central Government which lack mining expertise — an indirect method to should welcome F.D.I. in insurance, resulting in a loss scuttle the coal mining nationalisation law. to the L.I.C., which will have to share premiums paid The ordinance regarding land acquisition is the by Indian citizens to foreigners, unless it is a commit- limit of hypocrisy and shows total contempt for the ment given by Modi on his U.S. visit. So much is the parliamentary system. This Act is the result of years desperate attempt to woo foreign investors that when of massive agitations by organisations like Narmada their reaction was the expected one, namely, that they Bachao Andolan to get some justice to the evictees would wait for a regular law to be passed before risk- of land taken for the benefit of Big Business and in- ing their investment, the Union Government came out dustrialists. Surely this unanimous legislation by the with a convoluted version in the Press that even if the previous Parliament cannot be set at naught by an ordinance was not approved by Parliament, foreign executive ordinance - the irony being that the Act was investment made during the ordinance period would Contd. on next page

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 16 Trade Union Record OBITUARY Com. Perin Romesh Chandra Passes Away Com. Perin Romesh leaders of the AISF and was its general secretary in Chandra passed away on forties. She was very active in the Communist Party of January 7, 2015 in Mum- India and became the national council member. She bai, where she lived with was also an invitee to the central executive council her family at the end. As of the party. she had dedicated her After independence, a phase came in the party body in her will for medical when whole timers were asked to take up jobs, and purposes, Maharashtra she joined The Patriot, a daily newspaper upholding trade union secretary Su- the socialist democratic traditions in the country. Im- kumar Damle, her husband mediately after she joined, Com. Perin organised the Romesh Chandra, son Phi- workers union here. She left the job in the late 1960s roz and his wife Chhandita handed her body to the hospital. and joined the peace movement of which she was among the founding members. Later she became its Com. Perin Romesh Chandra, a pioneering leader national general secretary. Under her leadership the of All India Students Federation, All India Trade Union AIPSO led numerous struggles in support of libera- Congress and All India Peace and Solidarity Organi- tion movement of South Africa, Vietnam, Palestine, sation will be remembered always for the zeal and un- Bangladesh etc and contributed greatly to strengthen tiring will to work for the cause she was committed to. the international peace and solidarity movement and Com. Perin always stood against injustice and fought World Peace Council. The AIPSO became the biggest against such steps through whichever front she was. peace movement in Asia-Pacific region. Com Perin, as she was lovingly called, had her education in Lahore and graduated with gold medal AITUC pays deep condolences and homage to in economics. As a student, she was one of the early Com. Perin.

Contd. from pre. page their representatives prior to the issuing of the ordinance, especially when these organisations had also approved in the previous Lok Sabha by a parliamentary represented to him for a meeting. committee headed by the present Lok Sabha Speaker The ordinance issuing power is a legacy of British belonging to the B.J.P. The puerile excuse that it was colonialism. This should have no place in free India. It is necessitated for keeping the exemption of atomic plants not found in any other democratic country. But the Modi from the provision of the Act is phony because this government is misusing its powers openly by having al- would have required only an amendment to Section 105. There was no urgency to dilute the social impact ready readied an ordinance on the Arbitration Act. What assessment measure and the provision of enchanted urgency can possibly explain such a bizarre move? compensation which was to benefit the millions of poor The Supreme Court very strongly commented in and dispossessed people. Why does not the B.J.P. 1987 that the ordinance making power “is in the nature openly admit that it owes a debt to Big Business and of emergency power to take action when the legislature wants to displace lakhs of farmers/ poor residents so is not in session. This power is to be used to meet an that it can open up the Delhi-Bombay corridors to the extraordinary situation and it cannot be allowed to be corporate sector for which Modi’s first visit to Japan was perverted to serve political ends”. the precursor? In fact, the ordinance specifically em- Thankfully, Modi's undemocratic exercise of power powers the government to exclude industrial corridors is being resisted by trade unions who have decided from the applicability of the Act. to go on token strike. The Coal Mines Workers Union President Mukherjee sought a clarification from and other trade unions have also decided to organise three Central ministers but this was only an obligation a joint demonstration outside Parliament when it holds required under the Constitution when issuing an ordi- its next session. nance — the real stake-holders, the millions of poor The writer is a former Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi farmers, needed to be consulted and heard through 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 17 Trade Union Record AN OPINION Winding up of Planning Commission Consolidation of a neo-liberal State Prabhat Patnaik THE Planning Commission, set up under Jawa- been a Fund-Bank employee to head the Commission; harlal Nehru’s prime ministership, was a logical the Modi government has gone the whole length and expression of an idea that underlay India’s anti-co- has completed this process. In fact the winding up of the lonial struggle, namely that in independent India, an Planning Commission itself marks a major step towards improvement in the material conditions of life of the the consolidation of a neo-liberal State. people, subjugated and plundered through a cen- tury and a half of colonial rule, required a compre- Centralised Economic Power hensive marshalling and conscious allocation of all While this is very clear, what is less noticed is national resources. It was an essential component that, even while winding up the Planning Commis- of what Nehru had called India’s “tryst with destiny”. sion, the neo-liberal State has further centralised From the beginning however the planning process had economic power. In other words where the old Plan- suffered from several flaws, two of which inter alia can ning Commission played a progressive role, viz. be mentioned here. First, a substantial chunk of the in striving for the economic freedom of the country nation’s resources was not just in private hands, but in through snatching control over its national resources the hands of large capitalists and landlords, and hence from multinational corporations, its replacement the outside the purview of the planning process. This flaw Niti Aayog will not; but where the old Planning Com- was sought to be overcome, at least partially, through mission was flawed, viz. in not respecting the federal instituting a system of licensing that was supposed to nature of the polity, these flaws will be magnified. ensure that private capital accumulation did not violate There are at least two ways in which centralisation of social priority, and did not lead to further concentration economic power will increase under the new dispensa- of wealth. But in practice this instrument failed to achieve tion. First, the winding up of the Planning Commission the objectives for which it was supposed to be used. The will inevitably mean a strengthening of the ministry of finance, which is a far more closely controlled de- second obvious flaw was that the Planning Commission partmental body of the central government than the was envisaged as a mere departmental body of the Planning Commission of yore ever was. There were central government, where there was no representation typically three channels for the devolution of resources from the states. This did not matter in the beginning from the centre to the states in India: one was through when the same political Party ruled at the centre and the Finance Commission which, though a constitutional in the states; but it later became a serious limitation body, was always appointed by the central government, of the planning process, since this process came into with no consultations with the states, and hence filled conflict with the federal nature of the Indian polity. with persons willing to do its bidding; the second was In the neo-liberal State that we now have, self-reliance, through the Planning Commission which again was a as a means of escaping the hegemony of metropolitan departmental body, though admittedly of an unconven- capital, has ceased to be a national objective, with tional kind, of the central government; and the third was multinational corporations being invited to take over through the ministry of finance which was a conventional even core sectors; marshalling the nation’s resources departmental body and which made financial transfers to for the benefit of the people at large, has ceased to states at its own discretion. While the centre influenced be even a professed objective, with primitive accu- all three channels of transfers, these three channels can mulation of capital at the expense of the people being clearly be ordered in terms of their relative independ- encouraged even through ordinances (like the land ence from the dictates of the central government, the acquisition ordinance), when the parliament refuses last of these being obviously the one that is directly gov- to give its imprimatur to it. It is not surprising therefore erned by such dictates. The winding up of the Planning that the neo-liberal State should wind up the Planning Commission will necessarily mean therefore that the Commission. The Manmohan Singh government had flows which used to come to the states through the Plan- already initiated the process by adopting the bizarre ning Commission channel will now be effected through stratagem of inviting a neo-liberal economist who had Contd. on next page 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 18 Trade Union Record Contd. from pre. page agricultural labourers, peasants and petty producers. the ministry of finance; and this will mean greater direct Neo-liberalism refers not to the area of intervention control by the centre over what flows to which state. by the State, but to the class nature of that interven- The second reason that the winding up of the Planning tion (from which of course the area of intervention is Commission, even in the form it existed under the derived). If the State seeks to privatise nationalised Manmohan Singh government, will lead to centralisa- banks, then the reason is not because it believes in the tion is the simultaneous abolition of an apex body, the “market” in some abstract sense, but because it wants National Development Council. The National Devel- to hand over control over banks to the corporate-fi- opment Council, to which the Planning Commission nancial oligarchy allied to international finance capital. reported, though not a statutory body, was a forum Such a shift in the nature of the State necessarily where state chief ministers expressed themselves, not requires centralisation of political power; it also re- just on issues affecting their own states but on national quires centralisation of economic power within any development issues. True, the NDC did not vote; but federal polity (as long as the federal polity itself ex- the centre was under some pressure at its meetings ists and is not destroyed as in Yugoslavia) in favour to accommodate states’ demands (though no doubt of the federal authority at the expense of the states. there were certain notable instances where it did not). The fact that “Economic liberalism” is necessarily What is more, the states came to learn of each other’s associated with political authoritarianism, i.e.,with an positions at the NDC meetings and often derived con- attenuation in a myriad ways of democratic institutions fidence from the fact that other states too were voicing and democratic rights of the people (of which the “or- concerns similar to their own. But now, according to dinance raj” of today is a classic example), has been the information made available so far at any rate, there widely recognised, including even by the renowned will be no NDC, but only a few regional councils where conservative American economist, the late Paul Sam- the prime minister will sit with the state chief ministers. uelson. But the centralisation of economic power with This necessarily means a downgrading of the voice the federal authority at the expense of the states within of the states in matters concerning national economic any existing federal polity (except when the breaking up development. The confidence that the states had in of the country is even more “attractive” to international sitting together with the centre, and the pressure that finance capital), is less discussed and recognised. the centre was subjected to when the states spoke with But a moment’s consideration should clarify why such one voice on major issues, will now be replaced by an centralisation is required. The centralisation of econom- air of supplication. A bunch of supplicant state govern- ic power in the hands of the federal authority, within ments of particular regions will be pleading for greater which in turn the finance ministry becomes the apex of largesse from the centre at occasional regional meets. economic power, implies that a handful of nominees of For both these reasons, in other words, centralisation international finance capital, recruited into this ministry, of economic powers will be carried further forward, run the entire economy. No danger then exists of some compared even to the days of the old Planning Com- recalcitrant state government, elected on the basis of a mission. The fact that neo-liberalism is associated with pro-people agenda, pursuing a set of policies that devi- greater centralisation is something which is often not ate from neo-liberalism. Such a state government, if it appreciated. Since neo-liberalism presents itself in a depends on the largesse of the centre, will have to bow “State versus Market” context, as a rolling back of State to its dictates, and remain committed to the “straight and intervention, and its replacement by greater reliance narrow path” of promoting exclusively the interests of on “the market”, it creates the impression that it entails the corporate-financial oligarchy, no matter what its elec- more scattered, more decentralised, more dispersed toral promises. Indeed political authoritarianism on the economic power. Indeed the term “liberal” in “neo-lib- part of the centre itself becomes unsustainable, unless eral” (which alas one has to use only because of its there is a centralisation of economic power in its hands. current prevalence) reinforces this impression. This is precisely what the Modi government is attempt- ing to do in its bid to carry forward “reforms” on behalf Wrong Impression of the corporate-financial oligarchy. The substitution of But this impression is completely wrong. Neo-liberal the Planning Commission by the Niti Aayog is not just economic policies have to do, not with the “State versus a means of providing greater elbow room to the corpo- market” dichotomy, but with a change in the nature of rate-financial oligarchy; it is simultaneously a means of the State whereby it seeks almost exclusively to pro- curbing the states’ economic powers. The neo-liberal mote the interests of the corporate-financial oligarchy State whose consolidation it carries forward is simulta- at the expense of the vast mass of urban workers, neously a highly centralised State in terms of political

06 – 20 Jan., 2015 19 Trade Union Record TRADE UNION RECORD RNI No.931/57 Delhi Postal Regd. No DL (C) -01/1348/2015-16-17 06 – 20 Jan., 2015 Printing Date: 17 Jan., 2015 Posted at NDPSO on 20-21 January, 2015 AITUC - PUBLICATIONS Government of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment Consumer Price Index Nos for Industrial Workers on base: 2001=100 1. Nationwide General Strike- 28th Feb 2012 Rs. 10/- State Sr. Centre Oct. Nov. State Sr. Centre Oct. Nov. 2. Growing Resistance of Workers No. 2014 2014 No. 2014 2014 Against Capitalist Onslaught AP 1 Godavarikhani 268 267 MP 40 Bhopal 254 253 ((English & Hindi) Rs. 10/- 2 Guntur 256 257 41 Chhindwara 250 249 3. Nationwide Satyagraha - 5th March 2010 Rs. 200/- 3 Hyderabad 220 221 42 Indore 234 235 4. Choking the Workers Voice Rs. 5/- 4 Vijaywada 241 243 43 Jabalpur 245 245 By Gurudas Das Gupta 5 Visakhapatnam 254 256 MHR 44 Mumbai 262 264 6 Warangal 265 284 5. Country-wide Sathyagraha on 45 Nagpur 281 281 4th & 5th December 2007 Rs. 150/- ASM 7 D D Tinsukia 224 227 46 Nasik 265 265 47 Pune 259 258 8 Guwahati 221 219 6. Nation-wide Strike on 20th August 08 Rs. 150/- 48 Sholapur 267 270 9 Labac-Silchar 250 249 7. "French Students & Workers on the move" 10 Mariani Jorhat 227 229 ORI 49 Angul Talcher 262 260 Against Reforms.... Against Globalisation Rs. 5 /- 11 Rangapara-Tezpur 225 224 50 Rourkela 269 268 – By H. Mahadevan (Postage Extra) BIH 12 Monghyr Jamalpur 268 266 PUD 51 Puducherry 258 259 8. “No More Attack On Our Rights” Asserts Working Class CHD 13 Chandigarh 248 247 PUN 52 Amritsar 262 259 53 Jalandhar 244 243 – By H. Mahadevan Rs. 10 CHS 14 Bhilai 284 285 54 Ludhiana 243 241 9. Failure to Combat Hunger & Joblessness : DLI 15 Delhi 230 229 RJN 55 Ajmer 244 244 Call for Alternative Policies GOA 16 Goa 263 263 56 Bhilwara 250 252 – By Gurudas Das Gupta Rs. 10 GUJ 17 Ahmedabad 245 244 57 Jaipur 243 240 10. Corporate Control of Government! 18 Bhavnagar 233 233 TN 58 Chennai 230 241 Attack on Working class 19 Rajkot 240 240 59 Coimbatore 235 240 – By H. Mahadevan Price Rs. 5/- 20 Surat 234 233 60 Coonoor 248 254 Postage Charges Rs. 3/-extra 21 Vadodara 240 237 61 Madurai 245 257 11. Unemployment Benefit Schemes in HRY 22 Faridabad221 232 230 62 Salem 242 247 Developing Countries 23 Yamunanagar 245 243 63 Tiruchirapally 258 265 – A case for Unemployment Benefit Scheme HP 24 Himachal Pradesh 227 225 TRP 64 Tripura 222 223 in India —By Pardhuman Singh Rs. 15/- J&K 25 Srinagar 230 224 UP 65 Agra 261 260 12. History and sturggle of Beedi Workers in India 66 Ghaziabad 245 240 JRK 26 Bokaro 257 257 – By Dr. Yash Chauhan Rs. 50/- 67 Kanpur 260 259 27 Giridih 294 293 68 Lucknow 248 245 13. Recent Wage Agreements Rs.250/- 28 Jamshedpur 271 268 69 Varanasi 257 258 (1999-2001) Postage Rs.75/- extra 29 Jharia 283 281 30 Kodarma 295 298 WB 70 Asansol 284 283 14. Migrant Labour in Punjab 31 Ranchi Hatia 293 293 71 Darjeeling 241 237 By Krishna Jha Rs. 20/- KNT 32 Bangalore 256 257 72 Durgapur 285 286 15. Revised Edition, Old-Age Protection 33 Belgaum 259 263 73 Haldia 246 244 Employees Pension Scheme Rs. 25/- 34 Hubli-Dharwar 271 273 74 Howrah 235 233 – By Parduman Singh 35 Mercara 262 261 75 Jalpaiguri 251 249 16* Outline History of AITUC Rs. 25/- 36 Mysore 259 261 76 Kolkata 246 242 — By A.B. Bardhan KRL 37 Ernakulam 255 254 77 Raniganj 235 235 * These books are available in Hindi also. 38 Mundakayam 268 268 78 Siliguri 240 238 Price remains the same 39 Quilon 266 263 ALL INDIA INDEX 253 253

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