The central trade unions  BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA jointly issued the following statement: All the central trade unions of the country express deepest concern at the reckless decision of the government to increase the price of petrol more than Rs. 7 per litre, unprecedented dose of increase so far, at a time when the economy is in deep crisis. Food inflation has again crossed double-digit when slow down in the economy is unabated, all round economic crisis has overtaken the country. When it was urgently necessary to take effective steps to curb the criticality of the economic crisis, government has moved in the reverse way perpetuating the crisis and pushing  the people, particularly the working masses into intolerable hardships. Trade unions call for roll-back of the increase in petroleum prices, desist from increasing the price  of diesel, cooking gas and kerosene. It is the economic policy of the government that has put the country in peril, jeopardizing the livelihood of common masses. Central trade unions call upon the working masses to register their angry protest on 30 th and 31 st May, 2012 taking to effective from of agitation. Trade unions further  decided to hold the next meeting on July 10-11, 2012 to finalise the future programmes of action.

THE central trade unions BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF and SEWA had met on April 26, 2012 under the chairmanship of  Sanjeev Reddy, president of INTUC inNew Delhi

” The meeting expressed its deep concern at the refusal of the central government to call the trade unions for discussion on the demands on which the country had witnessed a massive general strike on February 28, 2012. The indifference of the government towards the unprecedented strike of the working people, once again confirms its gross insensitiveness to the intolerable distress of the working people particularly the contract, unorganised, casual and agricultural workers in the urban and rural areas.

It appears the government is bent upon continuing the same anti-people economic policies, even seeking to enact legislations that run contrary to the interests of the working people. It is also undermining  the public sector of the country.

If the government moves in this direction, the trade unions will organise instantaneous massive protest.The meeting while taking note of the precarious economic situation of the country, lowering of the rate of economic growth, sharp decline in the industrial production, steep rise in the price of essential goods and commodities which shall surely affect the working people, their employment, wage and working conditions, has decided to further intensify the struggle that is continuing over years, and will decide the time and form of the agitation at the earliest, after each of the constituents has deliberated over the issue.”

All the Central Federations and independent Unions etc. should join this massive joint movement to defend the interests of the workers. The success of the 15th December Strike should be carried forward and prepare for bigger struggles to protest the interests of the working class. All the unions/associations in the BSNL have to jointly make efforts for the success of the programmes being planned.

1st May, the International Day of the Working Class needs to be declared as a national holiday by the central government. May Day is declared as holiday in many countries. It is a day to be observed, organised and celebrated by the working class all over the world. In Kerala it is a declared holiday for the government and PSU employees.

The Central government can not delay in declaring it as a holiday.

MAY DAY 2012

On this May Day 2012, the CITU reasserts its commitment to international solidarity with the struggles being carried on by the working class throughout the globe against neo-liberal order and in defence of their rights and livelihood.

The CITU appeals to the working people in the country to work for strengthening the all in unity of the trade union movement in the country to combat and confront the onslaught being brought down by the corporate captive ruling polity on the rights and livelihood of the workers at every workplace; the struggle against attack on labour rights in workplace must be supplemented by solidarity actions in all others. Solidarity actions must form an inseparable part of the day to day collective life of the working people. This is the call of May Day.

On this May Day the CITU calls upon the working class to remain vigilant and fight against the divisive forces of all hues — communalism, casteism and parochialism while defending and expanding the unity of the class and the people in the struggle against oppression and exploitation.

Long Live International Solidarity of the Working Class!  Down with Capitalism & Imperialism!

Down with Neo-Liberal Imperialist Globalisation!

Long Live Socialism!

The central trade unions  BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF and SEWA had met on April 26, 2012 under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjeev Reddy, president of INTUC at his office.
The meeting expressed its deep concern at the refusal of the central government to call the trade unions for discussion on the demands on which the country had witnessed a massive general strike on 28th February, 2012 of the working people as never before in independent India, once again confirming its gross insensitiveness to intolerable distress of the working people are facing today, particularly the contract, unorganized, casual, agricultural workers in the urban and rural areas.
It appears the government is bent upon continuing the same anti-people economic policy, even seeking to enact legislations that run contrary to the interests of the working people, also undermining  the public sector of the country.
If the government moves in this direction, the trade unions will organize instantaneous massive protest.
The meeting while taking note of the precarious economic situation of the country, lowering of the rate of economic growth, sharp decline in the industrial production, steep rise in the price of essential goods and commodities which shall surely affect the working people, their employment, wage and working conditions, has decided to further intensify the struggle that is continuing over years, shall decide the time and form of the agitation at the earliest after each of the constituents has deliberated over the issue.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has fixed the interest rate for the EPF deposits for this financial year as 8.6%. This is 0.5% more than last year, but is far behind the rates given for the earlier year, which was 9.5%. Despite strong protests by the trade unions to restore the rate to 9.5%, the EPFO has only slightly increased it to 8.6%. This is completely injustice. When the bank interest rates have gone up to 11 -12 % or more, why the hard-earned savings of the workers should be given less interests? The government and EPFO should reconsider the issue and grant 9.5% interest this year.

After the Karnakata High Court and later Supreme court judgements, the Central Government has been compelled to hike the wages for the Central government sponsored MGNREGS workers to be raised to that of the minimum wages declared by the states. Earlier, it was far less than the minimum wages.

My congratulations to the unions which secured the judgement.

The nurses are on the struggle path. They are agitating against abnormally low wages, long hours of work, lack of facilities and also harassment from the management through bond system, not returning the bond etc. by the private hospitals and nursing homes. These exploitations have been continuing for long. About one year back, the nurses associations started agitation in Delhi and settled issues to a certain extent. Now the agitations have been extended in many hospitals. In Kerala also the struggles continue. Yesterday there was a Parliament march participated by thousands of nurses.

The Government should immediately intervene and settle the just demands of the nurses.

The working class in India has been continuously agitating against the neo-liberalisation policy implemented in India starting in 1991 when Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister and Manmohan Singh the Finance Minister. The socialist pattern of society announced by Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime minister, and the building up of a strong Public Sector, an independent foreign policy based on mutual respect and co-ordination – all have been thrown away. Especially after the collapse of the USSR, Indian government, whether Congress ot BJP has started tilting towards the imperialist block headed by United States. After Dr. Manmohan Singh became the Prime minister, with the full support of the political supremo of the Congress and with capitalist experts like Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Minister Chidambaram to guide, the neo-liberal policy is being implemented in an aggressive manner. India is gradually being downgraded as a subordinate ally of the United States. The Joint military – naval exercises, the tilt in foreign policy which may result in antagonizing our long friends like Iran and Sri Lanka, all are indications of the subordinate status of India.

Internally, the neo-liberal policy has hurt the poor the most. Of course, a number of billionaires and millionaires have arisen in the horizon with lacs of crore of rupees at their command. But the condition of the poor has not only not improved, but has become worse. But the Manmohan Singh government is not worried. It has found out methods to artificcially reduce the number of poor in the country. It has changed the standards for poverty in the country, with the format that Rs. 26 is sufficient for a person to live a day! Attacks on the working class are increasing everyday. Hard earned rights are being taken away arbitrarily. Hire and fire has become way of life. Prices have increased many times making life miserable for the have-nots.

It is against this anti-people anti-working class policies that the trade union movement has been organising struggles after struggles. 14 All India Strikes have been organised participated by crore of workers on an increasing rate as can be seen below:

1. 29th November  1991 participated by  more than   one crore

2. 16th June 1992                                                             1.5 crore

3. 9th September  1993                                                   1.5 crore

4. 29th September 1994                                                  2.5 crore

5. 11th December 1998                                                    2.5 crore

6. 11th May 2000                                                             2.5 crore

7. 16th April 2002                                                            2.5 crore

8. 21st May 2003                                                             3.5 crore

9. 24th February 2004                                                   4.0 crore

10.25th September  2005                                              6.5 crore

11.14th December 2006                                                6.5  crore

12.20th August 2008                                                    6.5 crore

13.7th September 2010                                                 6.5 crore

14.28th February 2012                                                 10  crore

The participation in the strikes has been continuously increasing and in the 28th February 2012 strike, it has reached 10 crore, about 10% of the total population. In the latest strike all the Central trade unions together have given the call, which was for the first time after independence.

There is no other way but to continue the struggle against this anti people, anti-worker policies. Victory is ours.