The General Strike on 29th November 1991.

GENERAL STRIKES AGAINST NEO-LIBERAL POLICIES  -1

The General Strike on 29th November 1991.

The first general strike against liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation policy of the central govt was organised on 29th November 1991. It was the All India Trade Union Convention held on 17th September 1991 which took the historic decision.

capitalism which got upperhand after the collapse of USSR was making all out attacks on the working class and progressive forces. India govt was not different. IMF was putting its pressure on India. Amendment on Sick Industrial Companies Act 1985 was moved in Parliament which was to help the corporates to order lock out against the interests of workers. Selling shares of PSUs were proposed with FDI up to 51%. There was move to privatise defence production, telecom operations etc. Govt was taking anti- worker steps for availing IMF loan.

It was against these anti-worker, anti-people proposals and policies that CITU and certain other trade unions called for one day strike on 29th November 1991.

The central govt employees under the leadership of the Confederation of CG Employees & Workers actively campaigned for the strike. An All India Convention was organised on 10th November 1991, which decided to extend full solidarity to the Industrial strike.

The strike in central govt establishments was full in Kerala, W.Bengal, Assam, NE regions etc. Massive dharnas and rallies were held in other places. As per call of the new leadership of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III headed by V.A.N.Namboodiri & Moni Bose as President and General Secretary, telecom workers all over India participated in large numbers.

The strike was massive in all sectors, despite of the fact that some of the Central TUs, including INTUC, had not given the strike call. The importance of the strike was that it heralded the many strikes against anti- worker neoliberal policies. It was a starting point.