Several lakhs of workers all over the country courted arrest on 8th November 2011 to express their serious resentment against the apathy of the UPA government towards their demands. The call for ‘Jail Bharo’ was given jointly by all the 11 central trade unions including CITU, BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, AICCTU, AIUTUC, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA.
In the national capital Delhi, several thousands of workers marched towards Parliament and around 10500 workers led by the central trade union leaders including AK Padmanabhan and Tapan Sen, president and general secretary of CITU, Baijnath Rai (BMS), Sanjeeva Reddy (INTUC) and Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC) were arrested.
The anger of the workers against the incessant price rise, unemployment, attacks on labour rights, lack of social security benefits for the unorganised workers, the institutionalised corruption etc were evident in their massive response to the call for countrywide courting arrest. Workers from both the organised and unorganised sector, men and women, in more than 500 out of the 640 districts in the country, in the state capitals and industrial centres, marched together with their colourful banners and flags and held dharnas, rasta rokos, processions etc and courted arrest. Workers courted arrest in all the districts in Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala and also in several other states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, etc. Around 3 lakhs workers courted arrest in 23 centres in Tripura. 1.25 lakhs workers joined the action in West Bengal. In Malda police resorted to severe lathi charge injuring 32 workers. In addition to the state capitals and district headquarters, thousands of workers also courted arrest in several industrial centres in Karnataka, Odisha, and Chattisgarh etc. Several coal-workers in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, and Maharashtra etc courted arrest en masse. Hundreds of workers marched on the streets of Jammu and courted arrest. In Jamui in Bihar, thousands of women beedi workers courted arrest. Thousands of fishers joined the industrial workers in several states in the Jail Bharo action. In many states, bank, insurance and telecom employees, state and central government employees also joined the demonstrations on the occasion. As per reports received till 3.30 PM, more than a million workers participated in the ‘Jail Bharo’ programme; the number is most likely to double when reports from all the centres in different states are received.
Addressing the meeting held near Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the central trade union leaders declared that the united struggle would be further intensified including a countrywide general strike in the coming months.
CITU congratulates the working people for their magnificent response to the call of countrywide Jail Bharo/Satyagraha and calls upon them to prepare for countrywide general strike in the coming months against the anti-people policies perpetrating a regime of loot and plunder on the people at the behest of corporates, speculators and black-marketeers.
Jammu & Kashmir
A massive protest/Jail Bharo programme was organized by J&K Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today i.e., on 8th of Nov, 2011 on the call of Central Trade Unions and National Federations to oppose anti-youth new recruitment policy of J&K govt., high price rise, enforcement of labour laws, fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs. 10,000/- per month.
The workers of various unions i.e., J&K ASHA Workers Union, Railway Loading & Unloading Workers Union, Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association, Teacher,s Association, Building & other Construction workers unions, J&K Kisan Tehreek, Chinab Hydro Power Project,s workers union, Bhartiya Coal Khan Mazdoor Union, Kalakot, Medical Representatves Union etc. assembled at Bikram Chowk, Jammu. The rally passed through main bazaars of city like Jewel Chock, Gumat Chowk, City Chowk and culminated at Indira Chowk and hundreds of activists led by M.Y.Tarigami courted arrest.
M.Y Tarigami State President CITU and MLA while addressing the rally criticised the frequent hike in the petro-products which lead to overall in-flationatry trends especially of the food items, thus, affecting adversely the poor sections of the society. He demanded that government should refrain from affecting intermittent hikes in petroleum products and LPG that have direct implications on the consumers and demanded an affective Lok Pal Bill to check the corruption prevailing at all levels of the government. Rampant corruption prevalent in the state, if not checked with punitive measures is bound to play havoc in the state. Strongly criticizing the anti youth new recruitment policy of the J&K State Govt. He demanded it’s immediate withdrawal. He further urged the centre and state governments for 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 recommendations of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and stoppage of disinvestment of Central and State PSUs. He demanded an affective Lok Pal Bill to check the corruption prevailing at all levels of the government. Rampant corruption prevalent in the state, if not checked with punitive measures is bound to play havoc in the state.
Om Parkash, General Secretary, (CITU) demanded amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedule and fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs.10,000/- per month with index price and removal of all ceiling on payment and illegibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity. CITU supports the Strike of workers of Bhartiya Coal Khan Mazdoor Union, Kalakot and Four Lane construction of Road and Tunnel for their just and genuine demands.
Sham Prasad Kesar, Regional Secretary, CPI(M), Jammu stressed for assured pension for all workers and compulsory registration of Trade Unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions 87 and 98. Kesar further demanded the regularisation of services of ReT teachers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Pawan Gupta, and Ramesh Chand Divisional Secretary & Joint Secretary of LIC Northern Zone criticized the disinvestment of Profit making PSUs. Smt. Sunita Bhagat , Anita and Anu leaders of ASHA Workers Union, Kishore Kumar, Sohan Lal and Banarasi Dass, Kisan Leaders also addressed the gathering.
West Bengal
The workers & employees of all the central unions, including, INTUC & BMS joined CITU in a nation-wide civil-disobedience & courted arrest. Lakhs of workers have come on the streets & made their demands clear to the govt. Their charter of demands focused on rights of all workers, including contract employees & setting the minimum wage at Rs.10,000/- pm. They warned the govt against curbing the workers’ democratic right to unionise & ensure that all companies implement the ILO conventions without any exceptions.
While the movement was carried out in an orderly manner, the police lathi charged, injuring several CITU members. Inspite of being a part of the govt in Bengal & Delhi, the INTUC was a part of this movement & one with CITU on all the demands. The INTUC Bengal chief’s demand to stop the Mamata govt’s terror on workers & unions speaks volumes about the Mamata govt’s fascist-like behavior towards common people, including workers.
JAIL BHARO IN ANDHRA PRADESH
The jail bharo call given by the central trade unions was a big success in many places of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in industrial centres in Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Nellore, Vijayawada etc.
In Hyderabad thousands of agitators gathered in front of Hyderabad district collectorate office and picketed it. Among them included both organised and unorganised workers, bank employees, government employees and others. They were addressed by state leaders of CITU, INTUC, TNTUC, AITUC, HMS, BMS, APNGOs, Central Govt Employees Confederation etc. The police arrested the picketers and lodged them in Goshamahal stadium for few hours.
The trade union leaders lambasted the neo-liberal, anti-working class policies of the central and state governments and vowed to intensify the agitations to pressurize these governments to reverse the policies. The unprecedented price rise and disinvestment in public sector companies were strongly criticized.
Addressing the picketers, CITU state president S Veeraiah lambasted both the governments for being utterly irresponsible to the plight of aam admi. He said the UPA-II government was on one hand giving away Rs 9.5 lakh crore as tax concessions to the corporate sector while on the other heaping greater burdens on the aam admi through repeated petro hikes. He warned of more militant and united struggles to force the government to backtrack from such an anti-people approach. AITUC general secretary Chandrashekar said this unity of workers would continue ahead and reminded how the working class conducted 13 general strikes in the past 20 years against government's anti-people policies.
1.25 lakh workers arressted in TN
Chennai:The jail bharo call given by the central trade unions was a big success in in Tamil nadu as 1.25 lakh workers held picketting hundreds of centers including Chennai and Madurai.
In Chennai thousands of agitators gathered at two centers. At North Chennai, infront of memorial hall CITU state gen.secretary A.Soundrarajan MLA., S.Kuppusamy, president of DMK's LPF, SS Thiyagarajan, state secretary of AITUC and leaders of BMS, HMS and other TUs led the massive picketing and courted arrest.
At South Chennai, near Panagal Palace, Saidapet, TK Rengarajan MP., vice president of CITU led the movement. Thousands of workers arressted.
In Madurai, CITU state president R.Singaravelu, state secretary B.Vickraman and leadres of other TUs led the massive picketing in front of railway junction. Hundreds of women courted arrest along with 2000 more workers.
CITU state leaders participated at various cities including Coinbatore, Tiruppur, Thirunelveli, Tiruchi, Salem, Erode etc. In these cities thousands of textiles workers, enggneering workers, garment workers participated.
Industrial towns like Hosur, Sivakasi witnessed a good response. At Hosur a huge rally was held.
In Kanyakumari district, thousands of horticulture workers picketed.
Across the state middle class organisations held massive demonstrations in support the workers movement.
The trade union leaders lambasted the neo-liberal, anti-working class policies of the central and state governments and vowed to intensify the agitations to pressurize these governments to reverse the policies. The unprecedented price rise and disinvestment in public sector companies were strongly criticized.
-Sp Rajendran.
