People's Democracy

M K Pandhe

THE Sixth Conference of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) held at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Complex in Mumbai, from 2^nd to 4^th June 2002 decided to launch a countrywide campaign to oppose the policy of privatising the ports in India. 160 delegates and observers who attended the conference, by a resolution, expressed their firm determination to launch a countrywide united movement of the Port and Dock workers to defeat the policy of privatisation.

Nhava Sheva Bandar Kamgar Union, a recognised union of JNPT, made all the arrangements to hold the conference. The JNPT Board meeting on 7^th June proposed to take decision to hand over the administration of this profit-making port to P & O, an Australian monopoly house, at throwaway prices. However, the trade unions in JNPT decided to go in for indefinite strike if the decision to privatise the port is taken in the meeting. Due to the firm determination of the workers, the JNPT management was forced to defer the decision till March 2003.

The venue of the conference was named after K.P.S. Menon, Working President of the WTWFI, who passed away recently after prolonged illness. K.L. Bajaj, Vice Chairman of the Reception Committee, while welcoming the delegates, highlighted the heroic struggles launched by the workers in the region. The land-losers fought a grim battle resulting in seven persons becoming martyrs in the area. Bhushan Patil, Secretary of the Reception Committee pointed out how P & O Company engaged contract workers on low rates of payments and exploited the workers to make higher profits. He further noted that the JNPT union is run by the workers themselves and there is no outsider in the organisation. It has got first position in secret ballot and is enjoying full confidence of all workers.

M.K. Pandhe, General Secretary of CITU, inaugurated the conference. He explained the worldwide struggle emerging against globalisation and machinations of World Bank, IMF and WTO. He observed the deepening of the economic crisis in the capitalist world leading to recession, closure of units, growing unemployment and poverty; and attack on the trade union and democratic rights of the working class. In contrast, he noted the remarkable progress made in the socialist countries where sustained rate of growth is maintained.

Welcoming the growing unity in the trade union movement, Pandhe called upon the working class to organise bigger struggles to defeat the policies of the NDA government.

He warned the growing danger of US imperialist interference in regional affairs and criticised policies of Vajpayee government of surrendering before the dictates of Washington. This posed serious danger to India's integrity and sovereignty.

Pandhe condemned the genocide of Muslims in Gujarat at the instance of Narendra Modi government after gruesome killings at Godhra. As these barbaric communal riots brought down the secular image of the country the trade union movement has been demanding the resignation of Narendra Modi government.

Pandhe welcomed the participation of Port and Dock workers in the 16^th April nationwide strike against privatisation and called upon for indefinite strike if the Bill to privatise the port is brought before Parliament.

S. R. Kulkarni, General Secretary, All India Port and Dock Workers Federation, addressing the Conference criticised the policies of the NDA government towards the Port and Dock industry and characterised the policies as anti-national. He supported the call given by the five Port and Dock Federations to go in for indefinite strike if the NDA government goes ahead with the policies of privatisation. He appealed to the Central trade unions to prepare for a long drawn struggle to change the policies of the government of India.

M. Shete, Secretary, All India Port and Dock Workers Federation (Workers) pointed out the danger of MNCs controlling our ports which would pose a serious threat to the defence of the country itself. He stressed the need for strengthening the present unity of the port and dock workers, so that massive united actions can be planned to oppose the policies of privatisation in all major ports.

M.M. Lawrence in his Presidential Address reviewed the policies of the NDA government and observed how they immensely harmed the interest of the nation as well as working class and people of India. He welcomed the growing struggles of the port and dock workers whose problems remain unsettled for several years.

The President of WTWFI criticised the Prime Minister for not implementing the promises given to the leaders of five federations of Port and Dock workers and called upon the delegates to campaign all over the country against the policies of the government, so that powerful struggles can be launched in all ports.

He warned against the communal divisions amongst people in the wake of Gujarat carnage and subsequent propaganda; and appealed for communal harmony and preservation of unity and secular tradition of the country.

Subhash Chakraborty, General Secretary of WTWFI, presented a report on the activities of the federation since the last conference held in 1995. He explained how the WTWFI had to express its dessent in the ten year bipartite settlement since the amount offered for five year settlement was only marginally increased. He also noted how WTWFI could not agree to some of the pre-conditions imposed by the port managements for granting additional concessions.

While appreciating growing unity of the waterfront workers, he pointed out the vacillations expressed by some unions during struggles which affected the impact of these struggles. Narrating several unsettled issues of the port and dock workers, Chakraborty called for countrywide joint movement to get these issues settled without any further delay.

The General Secretary's Report reviewed the activities of different ports and pointed out WTWFI had been making sustained efforts to get the grievances of the workers redressed.

He reviewed the seamen's movement and noted how the forward seamen's union participated in several movements which resulted in increased membership of the union to 18000. He criticised the discriminatory treatment given to FSUI by the management of shipping corporation.

Chakraborty noted weaknesses of the WTWFI and stressed the need to overcome the weaknesses to strengthen the movement of the waterfront workers.

Shib Shankar Ghoshal, Treasurer, submitted the statement of accounts for the last six years.

A total of 39 speakers who participated during the discussion of the report narrated their local experiences in conducting united movement of the port and dock workers. They emphasised the need for better coordination among different units and the federation HQ.

The speakers further pointed out the need for independent activity of the WTWFI, so that workers can understand its role properly.

The downsizing of manpower in all the ports inspite of increasing traffic was raised by several speakers. They also pointed out the growing trend among the port authorities to take unilateral decisions without consulting the trade unions. Some speakers even pointed out non-implementation of some of the clauses of the last ten year settlement. The question of pensioners in port and dock industry was also raised by some of the speakers.

After clarifications given by the General Secretary, the report was adopted unanimously by the conference. Similarly, the statement of accounts was also accepted by the conference.

The conference adopted several resolutions including on privatisation of Ports by NDA government, on communal carnage in Gujarat and demanding resignation of Narendra Modi government, on solidarity with the struggle of the DNPT workers against privatisation, and on privatisation and leasing of Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal at Cochin with Vakarpadon Project.

Shyamal Chakraborty, Secretary of CITU, in his speech emphasised the need to make an intensive campaign among the workers on various aspects of globalisation so that workers are ideologically prepared for a bigger struggle. He also noted the achievements of Left Front government in West Bengal during the last 25 years.

The Convenor of Enron Virodhi Samiti, Joshi, while supporting the struggle of the port and dock workers, pointed out how privatisation would add to the cost of production in all the ports.

On the evening of 3^rd June, a cultural programme was organised in the township by the artists from amongst the workers which depicted several cultural forms prevailing in the region. M.K. Pandhe while speaking during the cultural programme assured JNPT workers the solidarity of all port workers in India in the struggle against privatisation.

The conference elected a 79-member working committee and 19 office bearers including M.M. Lawrence as President and Subhash Chakraborty as the General Secretary.