People's Democracy

MORE than fifty thousand workers and employees participated in the March to Parliament by the central trade unions—BMS, INTUC,  AITUC,  HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF, SEWA and federations of employees on December 20. The march was the culmination of the two days countrywide jail bharo agitation on December 18-19, 2012 in which lakhs have courted arrest, all over the country. The unprecedented participation and the enthusiasm of the participants showed the anger of the workers against the anti-worker policies of the government.  Even though the march included only people from the nearby states, the participation was more than expected.

A K Padmanabhan, president, represented the Centre of Indian trade Unions (CITU) in the presidium, which consisted of one representative each from all the central trade unions. The speakers were, B N Rai (BMS), Ashok Singh (INTUC), Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC), R A Mittal (HMS), Tapan Sen (CITU), Satyawan (AIUTUC), Swapan Mukherjee(AICCTU), Ashok Singh (UTUC), S P Tiwari (TUCC), Shanmugham(LPF).

The meeting reiterated the decision for the two days countrywide general strike on February 20-21, 2013.

The meeting moved a resolution condemning the recent heinous rape and assault on a 23 year old girl in Delhi and against the increasing violence against women in the country, especially the capital city and the failure of the administration to provide security to its citizens.

The meeting also adopted a resolution in support of the struggle of the Maruti Workers Union, Manesar, Gurgaon, demanding the reinstatement of all workers who were terminated illegally and withdrawal of the false cases against the workers.

Apart from the central trade unions, all unions of employees of central and state government, banks, insurance, defense, telecom etc also participated in the programme.

DEMANDS

The five point demand charter formulated jointly by the central trade unions and federations is: 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.

Other immediate demands are: 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 ; amendment of 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 consumer price index; removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase in the quantum of gratuity; assured pension for all and compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions 87 and 98.