The senior leaders and workers of the trade unions in India will be remembering the first historical successful general strike which was organised on 19th January 1982, 30 years back. It was indeed historical. The call was given by the National Campaign Committee of Central Trade Unions and All India Federations.

The Historic One Day General Strike of 19^th January 1982.

The massive strike of the Indian working class on 19^th January 1982, 30 years back, was indeed historical. It was for the first time that after a very long period that the Central Trade Unions came together under the banner of National Campaign Committee to raise the genuine issues of the workers and common people and continued sustained struggles

Working People’s National Convention in Bombay

As per the decisions of the Central Trade Unions’ meeting held at New Delhi on 23^rd March 1981, a National Convention of Working People was held at Bombay on 4^th June 1981. Delegates from all over India participated in large numbers. In addition to the Central Trade Unions, representatives from the All India Federations of government employees, Public Sector employees and others participated. The representatives from undivided National Federation of P&T Employees also participated (NFPTE was bifurcated as NFPE and NFTE after the Calcutta Federal council in 1986). Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan,  former circle Secretary of E.III Kerala and other delegates participated from Kerala. The Convention was addressed by Central TU leaders, Com. P.Ramamurthy (CITU), Indrajit Gupta (AITUC), D.P.Thengdi (BMS), S.S.Dara (INTUC) and others. It was also addressed by Coms. S.K.Vyas (Confederation),N.J.Iyer (NFPTE) and other leaders of  All India federations. The Convention unanimously adopted the following 13 points Charter of Demands.

Charter of demands

1. Sale of all essential commodities such as food grains, edible oils, cloth, sugar, etc. at subsidised prices through a net work of shops in a comprehensive public distribution system under the control and supervision of popular committees.
2. Remunerative prices to the peasants and guaranteed supply of inputs.
3. Enactment and implementation of legislation to guarantee a minimum living wage and job security for agricultural workers.
4. Stringent measures against black-marketeers, hoarders and smugglers, speculators and officers protecting them.
5. Repeal of the National Security Act 1980 and the Essential Services Maintenance Act 1981
6. Need-based Minimum Wage for the working class on the basis of the norms laid down by the 15^th Indian Labour Conference.
7. Full neutralisation of the rise in the cost of living and removal of the ceiling of Rs. 1.30 per point rise in the price index (1960 base) arbitrarily fixed by the bureau of Public Enterprise.
8. Amendment to the Payment of Bonus Act providing bonus to all workers without ceiling or precondition
9. Ban on retrenchment and closures, introduction of unemployment allowance to the unemployed.
10. Withdrawal of all victimisation measures against trade union workers and activists.
11. Rectification of fraudulent Cost of Living Indices.
12. Recognition of Trade Unions on the basis of secret ballot.
13. Full guarantee of collective bargaining and trade union rights.

The following programmes of action were also planned:

1. A day’s token strike on 19^th January 1982.
2. In preparation thereof, State/Region wise Conventions should be held. It should be followed by demonstrations and rallies.
3. On 23^rd November 1981, there should be a March before Parliament in New Delhi
4. In preparation for the mass rally a day to be observed on 3^rd November  1981 by holding rallies all over India.

Black Day on 17^th August 1981

In preparation for the sustained struggle, eight Central Trade Unions jointly issued a call to observe 17^th August 1981, the day on which the monsoon session of Parliament was to start, as Black Day by holding demonstrations etc.  This was implemented successfully.

Parliament March on 23^rd November 1981

The Parliament March was a complete success.  The Boat Club was completely filled by the participants who have come from all parts of the country. More than 10 lakh delegates participated. Central TU leaders addressed the March. The Charter of demands was presented to the Government by the leaders.

This was the first time that such a large number of workers, including agricultural workers, participated in an All India programme. Trade Unions of various colours and ideology joined together to defend and protect the interests of the workers including the agricultural workers. This was the harbinger of many such struggles in the future.

All India Conference of AITE Union Class III at Calcutta.

The All India Conference of AITE Union Class III, an affiliate of the NFPTE, was held at Calcutta from 29^th December 1981 to 1^st January 1982. Com. Indrajit Gupta, M.P., and veteran leader of AITUC inaugurated the AIC and called upon the workers to participate in the strike. The house was in full support of the call. A resolution for participation in the strike was moved by the progressive section in the AIC. But Com. O.P.Gupta, General Secretary of the union, did not agree. Despite strong protests from the majority of workers, he announced the decision to go on strike ‘wherever possible’. It was a ploy for non-participation. There was a walk-out from the house protesting against such a decision. The progressive section declared that they will participate in the strike. Com.O.P.Gupta again ensured a similar decision in the NFPTE. But the leadership of Comrades N.J.Iyer and   K.Adinarayana declared that their unions will go on strike. In the Confederation of Central Government Employees also it was decided to go on strike. The leadership of O.P.Gupta and similar other leaders were not prepared for a common struggle of the working class. Their final decision was to organise demonstrations on the day, instead of strike.

The Historic Strike

The strike was a great success all over the country. In Kerala, W.Bengal etc. the strike was full success, even in P&T. All India Radio and newspapers were used by the government to unleash offensive against the striking workers.  In many places, Congress workers were used against the strike and to bring blacklegs to the offices. INTUC did not strike despite its participation in the convention. The success of the strike, despite the ESMA, shocked the government.

Victimisation

In the P&T,  victimisation took place in some places like Kerala. Comrade N.J.Iyer wrote in his “Panorama of P&T Trade Union Movement”, “ V.A.N.Namboodiri, Circle Secretary, E.III, Calicut , M.P.Kunhanandan, Assistant Circle Secretary and K.Damodaran, Branch Secretary were issued Rule 14 charge sheets besides dies-non and break-n-services”  in connection with the strike.  Later in connection with the struggle against victimisation and against unjustified rotational transfers, the entire Circle Working Committee members of Calicut were transferred out the District, and this writer, who was the Circle Secretary, was transferred to Lakshadweep. Dies-non for 35 months was issued against the writer, who refused to join at Kavaratti Islands, as per the decision of the Union. At last as per High Court Orders, the transfer was cancelled.

Martyrs

In Tamil Nadu, three agricultural workers became martyrs of the strike at the hands of the state government. Memorial for them was constructed for them.

Looking Back

After thirty years, when we are looking back and remembering the strike, we can see the sea of change that has taken place. Many strikes of the working class took place as per the call of the National campaign Committee, Platform of Mass Organisations etc. 19 nationwide strikes, almost one every year, have taken place after 1991, after the implementation of the neo-liberalisation policy by the central government. Unity of the central trade unions for joint struggle against the anti-worker, anti-people policy of the central government has strengthened after the INTUC as also BMS joined the main stream of struggles.

The last two years have seen the united and sustained struggles of the working class like Rasta roko, Parliament March etc. under the leadership of the central trade unions.

Towards the One Day Nationwide Strike of 28^th February 2012

The Central Trade Unions have given a call for a one day nationwide strike on 28th February 2012 on the 10 Points Charter of Demands which has been welcomed by the entire working class. Efforts are being made to make it a complete success. State level conventions are being held to propagate the demands and to make the strike a success. The Public Sector Unions have held a successful convention on 13^th January 2012 at Bangalore and have decided to make the strike a complete success.

In the BSNL, BSNLEU, NFTE, FNTO, BTEU, TEPU etc. have already decided to go on strike. The meeting of the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions of Executives and Non-Executives is expected to take a positive decision in its meeting to be held on 19^th January 2012 for participation in the strike.

Let the memory of the historic strike on 19^th January 1981 give more and more inspiration in our future struggles. Let us March ahead to a successful strike on 28^th February 2012!