People's Democracy

DECLARATION

THIS National Convention of Workers, held on September 4, 2012 at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, participated by workers representatives from all over India from all sectors, expresses its deep concern and anguish at the total non-response of the government to address the burning issues of the working people viz containing price-rise, universalisation of social security rights for unorganised sector workers, ensuring proper minimum wages, mass scale contractorisation, rampant violation of labour laws and onslaught on trade union rights etc, despite consistent persuasion by all-in united platform of the entire trade union movement in the country through various forms of countrywide programmes and agitations in a democratic manner since last three years. Such non-response of the government to the all-in-united activities and persuasion by trade unions is nothing but an affront on the democratic rights and aspirations of the working people of the country, which the trade union movement cannot accept lying down.

While condemning the government for its inaction and total indifference towards the miserable plights of the working people who keep the wheel of the economy moving, this National Convention strongly opposes the move of the government to curtail budgeted allocations for pro-people employment and welfare schemes like NREGA and ICDS meant for rural populace and women and child care respectively. The government is hell bent upon carrying the financial reforms by amending the bank and insurance laws to allow entry of MNCs and corporates in these vital sectors and also pushing through the privatisation process in phases through disinvestment of shares in blue-chip PSUs in the core and strategic sectors of the economy. The government is gifting natural and mineral resources of the country to the corporates and MNCs, paving the way for their loot.

Labour law violations are on an increase, the corporates have been given a free hand to suppress the democratic and trade union rights including the basic right of forming a trade union, and there is an increase in deployment of contract labour on jobs of regular nature. Many millions of workers employed to run several central government schemes, like the ICDS, ASHA, mid-day meal, sarva siksha etc, are being denied even the statutory minimum wages and associated rights. The state administration has become subservient to MNCs and corporates. The recent unfortunate incident in Maruti Suzuki Plant in Manesar and its aftermath, including the arrest of 150 workers and dismissal of over 500 workers, is a glaring instance of the corporate government nexus.

It appears the government is bent upon continuing the same anti-people economic policy even seeking to enact legislations that run contrary to the interest of working people and their social security rights, besides generating a severe recessionary impact on the national economy. The growth of economy is as low as 5.2 per cent and index of industrial production has declined to less than one per cent with the unemployment situation aggravating severely.

The Convention expresses its deep concern at the refusal of the central government. to respond to the just demands of the united platform of trade unions on which the country had witnessed, as never before, a massive general strike on February 28, 2012.

This Convention while taking note of the precarious economic situation of the country, steep rise in the price of essential goods and commodities and all out attack on trade union and social security rights and rampant labour law violations decides to further intensify the joint struggles, that were being carried out for last three years on the following demands.

Demands

While reiterating the five point demands formulated jointly by the central trade unions and federations for 1) concrete measures to contain price rise, 2) concrete measures for employment generation, 3) strict enforcement of labour laws, 4) universal social security cover for organised and unorganised workers and creation of National Social Security Fund and 5) stoppage of disinvestment in central and state PSUs/undertakings, the National Convention demands immediate action by the government of India to ensure:

1) No contractisation 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 or establishment.

2) Amendment to the Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs 10,000, linked with the cost price index.

3) Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase in the quantum of gratuity.

4) Assured pension for all.

5) Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

The National Convention adopts the following action programme to press for once again the above burning issues facing the working people.

Programme

1) State/district/sector level joint conventions during September, October and November 2012.

2) Satyagraha /Jail Bharo/Court Arrest on December 18-19, 2012 in all the states throughout the country.

3) March to Parliament on December 20, 2012 (mobilisation by the unions from the states adjoining Delhi).

4) Countrywide Two-Day General Strike on February 20 and 21, 2013

The National Convention appeals to the working people of the country and their unions/federations, irrespective of affiliations, to respond in a massive way the call for countrywide united struggle and participate en masse in the action programmes formulated by this all-in united platform of workers and employees to press for these vital demands embracing all sections of the toiling class.

The signatories to the above Declaration were the BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF, SEWA and several independent federations of workers and employees.