People's Democracy

THE working class all over the world will be observing the May Day this year as the international day of solidarity, amidst series of international actions against globalisation. In several countries a call has been given by the trade unions to observe this year's May Day as "International day of action against militarism and peace."

The year following May Day in 2001 witnessed unprecedented united action at a global level to oppose the policies of the World Bank, IMF and WTO. Never before has the international trade union movement come together in such a manner since the split in the World Federation of Trade Unions in the late forties. The WTO meeting at Doha (Qatar) on November 9, 2001 provided a background to observe the day as "Global Action Day" against the policies of capitalist globalisation. The International Confederation of Free Trade Union (ICFTU), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and World Confederation of Labour gave separate calls for observing this all over the world. A remarkable unity was achieved throughout the globe on that day when the World Bank policies were condemned by the working class all over the world. In India too, on that day all the trade unions in the country issued a joint appeal to the workers to protest against the globalisation policies and massive demonstrations were organised throughout the country.

The ICFTU unions, which in the past were hesitating to oppose the policies of globalisation, had to come out openly due to the practical experience gained by the working class in their day to day lives. Internationally, there was a strong reaction from the working class as job cuts, attacks on trade union rights, cuts in social security benefits became order of the day in all countries following globalisation.

Exemplary bankruptcy of Enron, the "top model" of global energy liberation, has exposed the true nature of market economy. Le Monde Diplomatique, a French monthly in its February, 2002 issue observed "Enron was the darling of all those who think that market is the apogee of existence. Its bankruptcy provides a very good opportunity for thinking about the deluge of privatisation and the regulation of the past 20 years. With Enron, we observe simultaneously the management that pocketed tens of millions of dollars, workers who lost everything, including money they invested in their pensions, customers who face power cuts, corrupt politicians and assessment agencies which are particularly benevolent as the companies they audit pay them as advisors…"

The paper noted that the same Enron contributed huge funds to Republican parliamentary leader Thomas Delay who introduced the Bill on deregulating the electricity market in USA. It also paid money to Annual Labour Party Conference in UK after it undertook water privatisation to benefit Enron. One can only imagine how much money was paid to those who signed the anti-national deal with Enron in India.

A new fighting mood of the working class in the global arena was clearly reflected in the international meeting of Southern Initiative against Globalisation and for Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR) which was held in Seoul (South Korea) in the first week of November last year. Trade unions of several countries including those of Australia, South Africa, India, Brazil, Philippines, South Korea and Pakistan expressed their firm determination to resist all aspects of globalisation and defeat the machinations of the World Bank, IMF and WTO. The conference decided to organise solidarity actions in support of the workers struggles in different countries. The meeting further planned mobilisation of the working class in support of the demand for the release of South Korean Trade Union movement leaders who have been in prison for a long time due to their opposition to the government's anti-people policies.

Despite severe repression, the working class of South Korea under the leadership of Korean Council of Trade Unions (KCTU) has been consistently organising struggles against government attacks on their trade union rights. They are also fighting against the presence of over 50 thousand US army personnel in South Korea and are demanding their immediate withdrawal. The trade unions are also fighting for the unification of Korean homeland.

SIGTUR is a forum where TUs of different affiliations come together to discuss the common problems faced by the working class all over the world. Though about 20 countries are associated with it, more and more countries are joining this forum giving it a shape of a sustained movement against globalisation. The CITU and its friendly organisations sent a delegation of over 25 members to participate in the SIGTUR conference.

Whenever international meetings of MNCs, big business houses or imperialist agencies are held in any corner of the world, big demonstrations are organised by the trade unions and NGOs who are opposed to globalisation. The holding of the annual meet of the financial sharks of the world at Davos (Switzerland) has become next to impossible due to these demonstrations. They were forced to shift the venue to New York but even there a powerful demonstration was organised by the workers and social activists.

The United Nations Conference on Financing for Development held at Monterry (Mexico) on March 18-22 also witnessed angry protests condemning globalisation and neo-liberalism.

As a challenge to the World Economic Forum, the progressive forces all over the world assembled at Porto Alegre (Brazil) and organised a meeting of World Social Forum (WSF). Over 50,000 participants from 130 countries joined the forum and condemned the financial globalisation. They declared, "Another World is Possible" in opposition to globalisation. The WSF involved greater dialogue between social, trade union and political movements.

The WSF declared, "The external debt of the countries of the South has been repaid several times over. Illegitimate, unjust and fraudulent debt functions as an instrument of domination, depriving people of their fundamental human rights with the sole aim of increasing international usury. We demand unconditional cancellation of debt and reparation of historical, social and ecological debts. The countries demanding repayments of debt have engaged in exploitation of the natural resources and traditional knowledge of the South."

The Declaration further states, "water, land, food, forests, seeds, culture and people's identities are common assets of humanity for the present and future generations. It is essential to preserve bio-diversity. People have the right to safe and permanent food, free from genetically modified organisms. Food sovereignty at the local, national, regional levels is a basic human right and in this regard, democratic land reforms and peasants access to land are fundamental requirements."

The Declaration also opposed wars of aggression in the name of fighting terrorism and condemned the dictates of the World Bank, IMF and WTO. It asserted, "We will strengthen our movements through common actions and mobilisations for social justice, for the respect of rights and liberties, for equality of life, dignity and peace."

As a follow up action, movements and campaigns are being organised all over the world to oppose the policies of globalisation. Throughout the year 2002, the world will witness massive actions wherever imperialist agencies have their international confabulations. "WTO, IMF and World Bank will meet somewhere, sometime. And we will be there." Half a lakh representatives who assembled in Porto Alegre asserted emphatically.

Since the May Day last year, there has been substantive rise in the worldwide struggle against de-regulation and privatisation. The workers, who have seen from their own experience what privatisation means to the national economy and themselves, have intensified their struggle against de-regulation and privatisation. The successful 'International Conference against De-regulation and Privatisation and for Workers Rights For All' held on February 22-24, in Berlin was attended by delegates from 51 countries. The conference was attended by people holding different views but all agreed to fight for the following issues:

• No to globalisation of the multinationals which calls for freedom of capital while restricting freedom of the people.
• No to perpetual war and the militarisation of society.
• No to US aggression in the Middle East.
• No to de-regulation and privatisation.
• No to destruction of the national security pension scheme in country after country.
• No to corporate takeover of our political system.

The delegates from San Fransisco Labour Council (AFL-CIO) condemned the declaration of President Bush of a permanent war and creating a climate of war hysteria. One of the delegates pointed out that unemployment in US has gone up from 2.5 million to 8 million in the last one year alone.

The emerging of common understanding on the issues concerning globalisation has been an important aspect of all international gatherings. This has given a good fillip to the powerful demonstrations that are taking place in most of the countries in the world.

The April 16 strike of the public sector workers in India, opposing privatisation, de-regulation, downsizing of manpower and anti-working class amendments to the labour laws, was an important landmark in the struggle against the policies of financial globalisation. Even the government media had to admit the success of the strike. The participation of employees in banks, insurance and port and dock workers gave the strike an added strength. Also, the participation of trade unions belonging to the ruling parties gave a universal acceptance of the demands raised by the unions giving call for the strike action. Though the INTUC president opposed the strike, the general secretary of the INTUC actively worked for the strike. Several state-level leaders of the INTUC came forward openly to support the strike. Never before such a remarkable unity was achieved during any earlier strike of public sector employees. The strike further reflected complete isolation of the government from the public sector workers.

The solidarity actions organised in West Bengal on that day was a unique step to oppose the policies of privatisation. In most of the state, general working class participated in mass actions in support of the strike and to condemn the NDA government's economic policies.

On April 16 itself, the workers in Italy organised a complete strike on similar demands. Nearly 20 lakh workers demonstrated in Rome in front of the ruins of the Roman empire to oppose the World Bank and IMF dictated policies of globalisation which have damaged the interests of the workers in Italy.

Hundreds of demonstrations have been held all over the world, condemning the policies of US imperialists to attack Afghanistan on the plea of fighting terrorism. Growing participation of the working class in struggles pertaining to political issues reflects their rising consciousness in the struggle against globalisation. In India also the working class has risen to the occasion to condemn the communal carnage in Gujarat and demanded the resignation of the culprit, Narendra Modi.

The working class of India, on this May Day, expresses its firm determination to prepare for bigger struggles to fight the policies of globalisation. The growing unity of trade unions is creating favourable atmosphere for still bigger struggles.

The Left Front governments in West Bengal and Tripura have been playing an important role in strengthening these struggles. The alternative policies put forth by these governments in opposition to the NDA government's anti-national policies have been a source of strength to the trade union movement. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the working class to fight in defence of these governments so that NDA government's policies can be defeated in not too distant a future.

Let the May Day this year reflect the united aspirations and fighting mood of the working class of India. The working class must realise the historical role it has to play in leading all the toiling sections of the society in the struggle against capitalist exploitation. The self-reliant economic development of the country can be ensured in India only by defeating the servile policies towards MNCs and the World Bank pursued by the NDA government. On this May Day the voices of the working class must be heard louder that India is not for sale, despite efforts made by the BJP-led government. If working class plays its historic role effectively, it can change the course of developments in the country in favour of common people who are suffering today as a result of pro-imperialist policies of the Vajpayee government.