The call for the countrywide programme was given by the national convention organized by all the Central Trade Unions and National Federations of employees in various sectors, held in New Delhi on 7th September. The Central TUs involved in the campaign are BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA.
The present phase of agitation will see massive participation in all centres as preparatory campaigns have been conducted during the last few weeks.
State level conventions have been held in all the major states. Leadership level meetings at state and district level have been held to coordinate the preparations. Hand bills and posters have been published jointly by unions. Many of the unions have conducted campaign among workers in their area.
Though the Central Trade Unions have been agitating for the last two years, Govt of India has not done anything on these important demands. On the other hand, prices of petrol have been raised many times. Even now, in addition to further increase in prices of petrol, Govt of India wants to increase prices of diesel, LPG and kerosene. With prices of all essential items shooting up, the lives of working people have been put to peril.
With the UPA govt, going ahead with their neo liberal agenda, workers all over the country are agitated. Already Coal workers have gone on a countrywide strike. BSNL employees have declared a one-day strike against so called voluntary retirement scheme to send out nearly a lakh of workers. Bank employees are agitating over retrograde amendments on banking regulations. Countrywide agitations are being conducted by state and central Govt employees against denial of pension benefits. There have been struggles in different parts of the country against denial of trade union rights and against large scale vitimisations. It is in these circumstances, the joint movement is being organized.
The demands are not that of the workers and employees alone. These include the demands of all sections of ‘Aam Admi’ in the country. The demands for the court arrest programme are the following
• Concrete measures to contain price rise,
• Concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession/incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs,
• Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws,
• Universal social security cover for the unorganized 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,
• Stoppage of disinvestment in central and state PSUs,
• No contractorization of permanent/ perennial nature and till then payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to regular workers of the industry/ establishment,
• 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/- per month with indexation,
• Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity,
• Assured Pension for all,
• Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions nos 87 and 98
The convention on 7th September has also called upon the workers to be prepared for a countrywide general strike after the “Jail Bharo” agitation.
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