Category Archives: CITU

TU Act 1926(Amendment) Bill anti-worker – CITU

03 Thursday Jan 2019

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The Centre of Indian Trade Unions denounced the unilateral move of the Govt of India to amend the Trade Union Act 1926 in the name of bringing about so called “transparency” and avoiding “duplicacy” as noted the press briefing by Union Cabinet.

But the text of the amendment, as available with the Central Trade Unions reveals the dubious intent of the Govt to usurp wide discretionary power with the Govt in the matter of recognition to central trade unions in total departure from existing mutually agreed practices being followed for last couple of decades, based on which verification of membership of central trade unions have been conducted number of times during last three decades. All the ten central trade unions jointly conveyed their opposition to the said Bill and also conveyed specific suggestions for changes on 10th August 2018. But none of the suggestions of the central trade unions has been accepted.

Central Trade Unions are confederations of the enterprise based registered trade union entities, which represent the workers in various tripartite or bipartite forums. Definition of the Central Trade Unions or eligibility of being considered as Central Trade Unions had already been unanimously formulated in joint meeting of the Central Trade Unions and the Union Labour Ministry on the basis of a minimum membership (to be jointly decided from time to time by similar joint meeting between the CTUOs and the Ministry of Labour & Employment) and spread over in four states. The proposed Amendment Bill has not deliberately incorporated this unanimously agreed formulation being followed from the very beginning and instead proposed “as may be prescribed” thereby usurping discretionary power with the Govt in the matter of procedure of recognition of central trade unions. Instead of so called “transparency” the Govt has been trying to retain arbitrary power in their hands in order to interfere in the trade union functioning. Already the dubious intent of the Govt stood thoroughly exposed in the manner the Govt has arbitrarily debarred the biggest central trade union in the country, Indian National Trade Union Congress(INTUC) representation in the tripartite committees including the Indian Labour Conference. All the ten central trade unions in the country opposed such proposal of the Govt.

Secondly, while the BJP Govt has been showing keenness in re-writing the procedure of recognizing central trade unions, they remain absolutely negative in making the employer mandatorily recognizing the trade unions at the enterprise level. As a result in many workplaces throughout the country, particularly in private sector, workers are being victimized only for forming their trade unions as had happened in Maruti-Suzuki in Manesar, Haryana and the latest of such incident has been in Yamaha in Tamilnadu. Numerous struggles are going on only on the demand of recognition of trade unions in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan and other states. Existing law empowers the employer not to deal, if they like, with the trade union at the enterprise/workplace level, even if there is a single union. The entire trade union movement has been demanding since long the statutory provision of mandatory recognition of the trade unions at the enterprise level. But the proposed amendment bill totally ignored said long standing demands of the trade union movement thereby allowing their corporate masters to play ducks and drakes with the basic trade union rights of the workers.

The proposed Trade Union (Amendment) Bill 2018 as cleared by the Cabinet of Narendra Modi is the integral part of its package of so called “Labor Law Reforms” including the four code Bills repealing existing 44 labour laws, which is thoroughly designed with dubious articulation to impose conditions of slavery on the working people and totally abrogate trade union rights. All the trade unions in the country, barring the Govt-sponsored one led by RSS, rejected the proposed Bill with contempt it deserves and are determined to resist the pro-corporate changes in labour laws through united action. The working people of the country are going to demonstrate their contempt through the forth coming countrywide two days general strike on 8-9 January 2019 in a massive way.(Courtesy: Ganashakti)

MAY DAY GREETINGS FROM WFTU

27 Friday Apr 2018

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May Day 2018: With Internationalism and Solidarity!!
17 Apr 2018
1 MAY, MAY DAY

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in the name of its more than 92 million affiliates all over the world salutes, on the occasion of this great day, all the workers who live, work and struggle in every corner of the world. May Day was, is and will be a beacon for the struggles of yesterday and tomorrow despite our enemies’ efforts. May Day has to be a message of resistance against bourgeoisie, imperialists and their international alliances’ policies.

At the same time, the workers’ blood which was shed in Chicago on 1886 reminds us of our duty today; it reminds us that nothing is given for free; every right or freedom that was conquered by our class has been won through sacrifices, conflicts and organized struggles.

Today, whilst technology and scientific progress have contributed to the increase of the produced social wealth, our class’ living conditions have been deteriorating. In every capitalist country, the bosses attack our class achievements: they are sweeping through salaries, pensions and social security; they are privatizing everything, they don’t hesitate to attack even the sacred right to strike! Strike is the most powerful weapon we have in our hands and we are not going to allow anyone to limit, confine or convert it to a dead letter!

At the same time, they are intensively preparing and conducting regional wars.They pave the way for new massacres that will maximize their profits, for new imperialist interventions that will destroy nations, spill peoples’ blood and deprive them of their natural resources. The ongoing imperialist intervention in Libya and Syria, the growing aggression against Venezuela, the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the massacre of Saudi Arabia against Yemen, the tension on the Korean peninsula, they are all indications that multinationals have smelled new profitability areas; and every time this goes through the dead bodies of workers.

Under the current conditions of the deep economic crisis of capitalism and intense competition among various imperialist centers to control new markets, our most powerful weapons are INTERNATIONALISM and SOLIDARITY. No worker must feel alone. All together, we must move on with Solidarity and Internationalism, building the Unity of the working class to give practical effect to Karl Marx’s motto “proletarians of all countries unite”.

In this context, and on this anniversary, the WFTU expresses its solidarity with our persecuted brothers, the immigrants and refugees, who either because of imperialists’ bullets or because of poverty and misery generated by this system, are forced to leave their homeland. The WFTU will continue to be on their side, fighting for a world without exploitation and refugees. Immigrants must become an integral part of unions, unite with local workers and fight together for wages, rights, against wars and interventions.

We join our voice with the heroic Palestinian people in order to gain their own independent and democratic homeland.

At the same time, we stand by the side of the struggling female worker, the one who suffers from double exploitation. The WFTU female members, at the recent World Women’s Congress in Panama, declared loud and clear that they want equal rights to work, society and life. The WFTU also fights and will continue to fight for this equality. It’s the same orientation that we follow for the the youngsters, as the new generation of workers have the task to honor the best May Day struggle traditions.

This year, the WFTU, by giving its hand to anyone who has stood up, has announced the year of trade union education and training. Our purpose is that the new shifts of workers be insubordinate, militant, enemies of class compromise and collaboration. We honor the year of trade union training and we call on every union to contribute to the militant truth, revealing the true meaning of May Day and the sacrifices the working class made for it. By rescuing the past, the very memory of our movement, we leave a legacy for tomorrow’s struggles and we also have a tool for the future. It is a duty to know the history of our movement.

The WFTU takes steps forward, strengthens and grows: and that’s what frightens our opponents. There is no other way than to make it present everywhere, in every corner of the world, so that there is no longer a hungry, dismissed, hunted or persecuted worker. The WFTU must be a “trench” of struggle for a future without exploitation of man by man. This is how the vision of the first Secretary General of the WFTU, Luis Saillant, envisioned in 1945 will be brought to life: “The WFTU for the workers of the whole world!”

LONG LIVE MAY DAY!

CITU General Council started at Kozhikode

24 Saturday Mar 2018

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The CITU General Council has started at Kozhikode on 23rd March 2018 which will continue up to 26th.The Presidential Speech was delivered by Dr. Hemalatha, President and the Report was submitted by the General Secretary, Com. Tapan Sen, M.P. The General Council strongly opposed the new notification by the Central government on making all appoints as term appointments and called upon the workers to protest the same. Solidarity actions will be organised on 2nd April through out the country on which day the Trade Unions in Kerala have called for a strike against the new attack on the working class. The Council is attended by 460 delegates. The Reception Committee led by Com. Elamaram Karim, General Secretary CITU Kerala has all arrangements for the conduct of the council.

CITU General Council at Kozhikode from 23rd March.

22 Thursday Mar 2018

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General Council meeting of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will begin on Friday (March 23, 2018) at historic port city of Kozhikode in Northern coast of Kerala. A galaxy of leaders of revolutionary trade unions reached in the city to design the future course of struggles. The meeting will begin with the flag hoisting and the formal opening of four day session with the address of CITU president Dr. K Hemalatha at the venue christened as Muhammed Amin Nagar arranged in Tagore Centenary Hall, Kozhikode.
The General Council meeting gets significance as the central government announces its decision to eliminate regular employment.
After the Presidential address, General Secretary Tapan Sen will present the report. A separate session will be held to update 25 year old Bhubaneshwar document on organization. The Bhubaneshwar document was adopted by General Council held in 1993 at Bhubaneshwar. On the basis of 25 years’ experience and lessons the document will be discussed thoroughly to incorporate new strategies to reach out the unreachable sections of working class.
The council would discuss the central government’s disastrous move to weaken the unity of worker the help of communal and caste forces.
Kozhikode, a city has rich heritage of historic labour and peasant struggle hosts the CITU general Council after the gap of 17 years. The working class in the district is fully engaged with the reception committee to make the meeting a grand success. Seminars of various subjects held in connection with general council attracted thousands of workers and common people from all walks of life.
A huge workers’ rally will be held in Kozhikode beach on 26th of March. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the rally. CITU president Dr. K Hemalatha, General Secretary Tapan Sen, vice president A K Padmanabhan, state president Anathalavattam Anandan, General secretary Elamaram Kareem will address.
Dr. Hemalatha inaugurated a seminar JAN EKTA, JAN PRATIRODH, JAN ANDOLAN, on 22-03-2018 held in Kozhikode in connection with CITU general council. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

Comrade Mohamed Amin passed away

12 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in CITU, Obituary, Tributes

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With extreme sorrow and grief it is intimated that Comrade Mohamed Amin, former General Secretary of CITU and  PB Member of the CPI(M) passed away at Kolkata today, 12th  February 2018. He was 89. He was suffering due to ill health for some time.

Comrade Mohd. Amin started his career as a jute mill worker at the age of 14 and became an active trade union worker. He rose from that position to higher responsibility in the trade union.

Com. Mohd. Amin was a founder member of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and became its secretary in 1987. He was elected as the General Secretary, which post he held from 2007 to 2010.  He was a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha during the periods 1988-94 as also 2007-2013. He was also Labour Minister in the W.Bengal Government for two terms. He was  elected as a Member of the Polit Bureau of CPI(M).

During his tenure as CITU General Secretary and M.P. he was  stationed at Delhi and was a great help to BSNLEU and guided the organisation on the right path and took up many issues in the Parliament for settlement. He attended the CEC meetings of the union held at Delhi  in July 2008, at Kolkata in November 2008, at Mysore in August 2009 and at Bhopal in February 2010 and gave valuable advice. He was always a source of strength to the organisation.

He was well versed in Urdu and his wrote many books. I read his  book on the life of Com. Hyder Amir Khan, one of the founders of the Communist Party in India, in one reading without stopping, as it was so much thrilling and narrated the hard experiences of the earlier communists. After consulting Com. Amin, on my suggestion, Com.R.S.Yadav, former Circle secretary BSNLEU of U.P. Circle translated in to Hindi and was shown to Com. Prakash Karat, the General secretary of CPI(M).

At the time of his death, he was a special invitee to the Central Committee of CPI(M).

AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF express deep sorrow at the demise of veteran leader Com. Mohd. Amin and convey condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades!

 

 

 

Reception to leaders going to attend Mahapadav

30 Monday Oct 2017

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A warm reception was accorded in the evening of 30th October to the delegates of the various central trade unions and service associations at Calicut going to attend the Maha Dharna at New Delhi on 9-11 November 2017. All the CTUs and service associations attended in large numbers. The Dharna is being organised on the demands of the workers and against the anti-worker policies of the government.

Through out the country full preparations are going on for the successful holding of the dharna. It will  be organised in the Parliament Street itself.

Workers will Storm Delhi on 9-11 November 2017

09 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in CG Employees, CITU, TU News - India, Uncategorized

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Lakhs of workers from all parts of the country will be sitting on Maha Dharna for 3 days from 9th to 11th November 2017 in Delhi against the anti-people, anti-worker policies of the Central Government and on the major demands of the people and the working class. An Indefinite strike will follow, the date of which will be decided later. These are the main declarations of the massive convention of workers held at New  Delhi on 8th August, as per the call of the Central Trade Unions.

The Workers Convention was presided over by K.Hemalatha (CITU), Ashok Singh (INTUC), Ramendra Kumar (ATUC), S.N.Pathak (HMS), Sathyawan Singh (AIIUTUC), Latha (SEWA), Uday Bhatt (AICCTU), V.Subburamn (LPF) and Shatrujih Singh (UTUC).

The Convention was addressed and guidelines given by Tapan Sen (CITU), Amarjit Kaur (AITUC), Sanjeeva Reddy (INTUC),Harbhajan Singh (HMS),Shankar Saha (AIUTUC), Manali (SEWA), Rajeev Dimri (AICCTU), M.Shanmukhan (LPF) and N.K.Premachandran (UTUC).

All central trade unions, except BMS, participated in the convention. After BJP  government has come in to power, BMS has been keeping away from the common programmes, for reasons well known to them.

In addition to the central trade unions, confederations/federations/unions/associations of workers from various sectors like Central/state governments, public sector, private sector etc. participated. The Talkatora Stadium where the convention was held was overflowing with delegates and hundreds had to stand outside the stadium.

Massive propaganda is to be organised well before the Maha Dharna at New Delhi in all centres jointly by the trade unions. It will really be a storming of the India’s capital city, Delhi.

Revolutionary Greetings on CITU Day!

30 Tuesday May 2017

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Com.B.T.Ranadive, first President of CITU

Today, 30th May 2017, is the 47th Foundation Day Anniversary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the militant organisation of the workers in India. It was formed on 30th May 1970 under the leadership of Coms. B.T.Ranadive and P.Ramamurti, the first President and General Secretary of CITU.

During the last five decades, CITU had organised several struggles, gave solidarity and support to many more. It was always in the forefront of united struggles of the central trade unions. In all the 17 united all India strikes organised against the anti-worker neo-liberal policies of the Congress and BJP governments, it took a pivotal role. CITU was the one union which participated in all these strikes. CITU is affiliated to WFTU.

CITU gave a new direction to the working class struggles. It gave all support to the struggles of the CG Employees as also BSNL workers. The advice and guidance of Coms. E.Balanandan, M.K.Pandhe, Chittabrata Mazumdar, Mohammed Amin, A.K.Padmanabhan, Tapan Sen, Hemalatha and other CITU leaders encouraged and inspired the BSNL employees in their forward march.

Revolutionary Greetings to CITU, its leaders and workers on the Foundation Day Anniversary  of CITU!

One more attack on the workers – Govt. proposes reduction in EPF Contribution of employers

27 Saturday May 2017

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The Labour Ministry has directed the EPFO to take necessary action to reduce the employers’ contribution to the EPF from 12% to 10%. The directive is only to favour the employers. In fact, what the EPFO suggested to government was to reduce the employees’contribution from 12% to 10% and keep the 12% as it is for employer. But the government wanted to favour employers by reducing their contribution. Realising that there will be a backlash from the people, the media and the workers, government has now directed that both the contribution should be reduced to !0%. What this means is that the EPF contribution will be reduced by 4% which will be a big loss to the workers.

CITU and other Central trade Unions have condemned this anti-worker move of the Government. The government should be compelled to back-tract from this anti-labour decision.