General Strike on 7^th September 2010

All India General Strikes in India  -11

General Strike on 7^th September 2010

A meeting of the Central Trade Unions viz. INTUC, AITUC, CITU, AICCTU, HMS and UTUC was held on 19^th July 2009 at the INTUC Office New Delhi, presided over by Dr. G.Sanjeeva Reddy (INTUC). The meeting expressed serious concern over the rising prices of the essential commodities, continuous job  losses, non-implementation of basic labour rules, extreme inadequacy of the provisions in the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act 2008 and move of the government for disinvestment of Central PSUs. The Central Trade Unions called upon the workers and employees of various unions/ associations irrespective of affiliations to unitedly highlight their concerns on the above issues. It was also decided to submit a Memorandum to the Prime Minister on the above issues as also to hold a National Convention of Trade Unions at Delhi in September 2009 to chalk out future programmes.

National Convention of workers on 14^th September 2009

As decided earlier, the National Convention of Workers was held at Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi on 14^th September 2009 under the auspices of BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU and UTUCC. The Convention passed a comprehensive Resolution on the important issues of the workers, the negative and anti-worker attitude of the government and the need to continue sustained struggles. The following programmes were decided to highlight the burning issues facing the working people:

1. State level Joint Conventions
2. All India Protest day on 25^th October 2009.

These programmes were effectively organised all over the country.

National Convention of  Workers on 15^th July 2010

Another National Convention of Workers was held at Mavlankar hall, New Delhi on 15^th July 2010. It reviewed All India Protest day on 28^th October 2009, Massive Dharna and Parliament March on 16^th December 2009 and Satyagraha / Jail Bharao on 5^th March 2010 in which more than 10 lakh workers participated. A Declaration was adopted by the Convention on the various issues already focussed and decided to organise an All India General Strike on 7^th September 2010.

All India General Strike on 7^th September 2010

The strike embraced all the states in the country. In W.Bengal and Kerala it was almost a Bandh. It was not much different in other states. Most of the PSUs were either closed or there was very thin attendance. The strike was a very good success in BSNL. The Central Government and State Government employees also participated in large numbers. This was the  strike with biggest participation so far. In every new strike the number of participation increased. (to be continued)