People's Democracy

 SUCCESSFUL COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE

Central TUs Congratulate working people

The following is the press statement issued by the central trade unions on February 28, 2012

ALL the central trade unions ( BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, UTUC, TUCC, LPF, SEWA )congratulate the mass of the working people of the country for their overwhelming response to the united call of countrywide general Strike on February 28, 2012 to press for their burning demands. The call was given by all the central trade unions in the country and was endorsed by almost all the major independent national federations of employees and workers.  Reports received from all over the country reveal that around 10 crore workers took part in this strike across the industries and occupations, both in organised and unorganised sector.

The demands before the striking workers and their trade unions were 1) concrete measures to contain price rise 2) concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession/incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs, 3) strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violations, 4) universal social security cover for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendation of NCEUS and parliamentary standing committee on labour and 5) stoppage of disinvestment in central and state profit-making PSUs, 6) no Contractorisation of work of permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry/establishment, 7) amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and  fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs 10,000/-, 8) remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity, 9)assured pension for all, 10) compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions nos 87 and 98.

All the central trade unions in the country are agitating for the last nearly three years but it is deplorable that the Government of India could find no time to talk to the central trade unions during the intervening period to discuss and address the most burning problems facing the working people of the country. The notice for the February 28 strike was given on  December 2, 2011 but the government did not care to call the central trade unions for discussion.

Massive response to the call of general strike by the workers enmasse visibly impacting almost all the sectors of the economy, viz., coal, steel, petroleum, telecom, defence, banks, insurance, electricity, transport, port & dock, anganwadis, construction, brick-kilns, beedi etc both in organised and unorganised sector is a fitting reply to the utter neglect and insensitivity of the governments towards the problems and miseries of  crores of the working masses who are keeping the country’s economy running. This is also a signal that the working people and their unions would in no way accept such indifference and neglect lying down and carry forward their struggle to a higher pitch if their basic demands are not addressed by the government through concrete remedial action.