1. The Sixth General Strike on 11th May 2000

NPMO All India convention on 20-01- 2000

An All India Convention called by  the National Platform of Mass Organisations was held at Constitution Club Hall on 20th January 2000. More than 5000 delegates from Central- State Government-Public Sector, Kisan, Agricultural , Youth , Students, Women  etc. participated.

The Presidium included Coms. E.Balanandan (CITU), J.Chitharanjan (AITUC), A.D.Nagpal (HMS), Swapan Roy (UTUC), N.N.Krishna Das (DYFI), V.A.N.Namboodiri (Telecom) and others. The Convention was addressed by Coms M.K.Pandhe (CITU), A.B.Bardhan (AITUC) K.Varadarjan (Kisan Sabha), A.Vijaya Raghavan (Agricultural Workers Union), Brinda Karat (AIDWA), S.K.Vyas (Confederation) R.L.Bhattacharjee (NFPE) and others. In his speech Com. VAN announced the decision of telecom workers to go on One Day Strike on 15th February 2000 against corporatisation,  which was received with loud cheers.

The Convention adopted a detailed Resolution calling upon the mass organisations to organise country wide campaign and agitational programmes against the neo-liberal, anti-people policies being implemented by the BJP government. A Charter of Demands on major issues was adopted with the following programme of action:

  1. Holding of State district level conventions by February 2000
  2. Massive Rally before Parliament on 9th  March 2000.
  3. Countrywide General Strike during Budget Session, the date of which will be decided later.

National Convention of Central Govt. Employees and Workers.

A National Convention of the CG E and W was held at New Delhi on 8th March 2000 to discuss about the Parliament March and also to take decision on the Charter of Demands for the strike. The Convention was presided by Coms. Barda Bhattacharya, T.Narayanan, V.A.N.Namboodiri and others. The Convention was addressed by leaders of CG employees including Coms S.K.Vyas, K.K.N.Kutty, R.L.Bhattacharjee, VAN and other leaders. The Convention gave a call to organise 19th April as Anti-Down Sizing Day.

Workers March to Parliament on 9th March 2000

The massive March to Parliament organised under the auspices of the National Platform of Mass Organisations was attended by tens of thousands of workers. National leaders of trade Unions addressed the Rally held at the conclusion of the March. The Rally called upon the workers to organise One Day General Strike on 11th May 2000 on the Charter of demands already approved in the earlier Convention.

The General Strike on 11th May 2000.

It was a mighty and extremely successful General Strike on 11th May 2000. In Assam, W.Bengal, Kerala, Bihar and A.P., the strike was converted in to a bandh. The train services in many states were stopped by picketting. In all the states strike was widespread. More than 2.5 crore workers participated all over India.

The Strike had its echo in the Parliament.  175 M.P.s belonging to CPI(M), CPI,RSP, Forward Block, RJD, SP, NCP, AIADMK, BSP, AGP,RPI, Muslim League and JD(S) observed Dharna at the main entrance of the Parliament House. Though demanded for a discussion in the Parliament, it was denied by the government.  Hence the proceedings were stalled.

The strike has shown that the working class with the support of the people are determined to fight against the disastrous economic policies of the BJP Government. The General strike was a warning to the government of sustained struggles for achievement the demands of the workers.