The Third General Strike by Indian Working Class on 9th September 1993
The General Strike called by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions and Independent Federations on 16th June 1992 was a great success. Maximum campaign was organised on the demands finalised by the committee.
However, the central government continued its attack on the working class by imposing restrictions as dictated by the IMF-World Bank combine. The New Economic Policy hit hard all sections of the society. Prices have risen very high increasing poverty of majority of the people. The deregularisation of the economy had strengthened the grip of the capitalists and big business at the cost of the small scale sector. Public sector is being systematically dismantled through disinvestment, privatisation and closure of sick units. The Exit Policy has endangered jobs of millions of workers. Students and youth are facing a bleak future with dwindling job opportunities. Communal and divisive forces are taking upperhand, with the government silent on the attacks on secular, democratic and patriotic forces.
Under these circumstances, sustained struggles by working class with the support of the people at large became unavoidable. The National Convention of Mass Organisations held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 15th April 1993 reviewed the situation after the two General Strikes on 29th November 1991 and 16th June 1992 as also the Massive Rally held before Parliament on 25th November 1992 decided to constitute the “ Platform of Mass Organisations Against Govt.’s Economic Policies and Communalism” and called upon the mass organisations to rally the toiling masses behind the important issues facing the people and workers. A 20 Point Charter of Demands was adopted and the following programmes of action decided:
1.Statewise/ Districtwise etc. Joint Conventions to be completed by 15th June 1993.
2. Statewise Jathas, Padayatras, Rallies, Demonstrations to be completed by July
3. Massive Court Arrrest on 19th August 1993.
4. Bharat Bandh and Countrywide Industrial Strike on 9th September 1993.
A National Convention of the central government employees was held on 12th July 1993 at the Constitution Club, New Delhi participated by more than two hundred delegates from AIRF, NFIR, AIDEF, NDEF, Confederation, NFPE, FNPO, NFTE, FNTO etc. Coms. J.P.Chaubey (AIRF), P.N.Sharma (NFIR), S.K.Vyas (Confederation), Augustine (AIDEF), O.P.Gupta (NFTE), V.A.N.Namboodiri (E.III – NFTE), P.Balakrishnan (NFPE) and other leaders addressed the Convention. The Convention unanimously adopted a resolution calling upon the Central Government Employees to go on strike on 9th September 1993.
Bharat Bandh and General Strike on 9th September 1993.
The Bharat Bandh and General Strike on 9th September 1993 was a grand success. As per the estimates of the Trade Unions, it was much better than the last General Strike on 16th June 1992. The wider participation of the peasants and other rural masses, the youth, women and the students apart, from the working class made the General Strike a historical event. The people came in protest against the New Economic Policy of the Narasimha Rao Government and against forces of Communalism. People raised their voice against the blatant surrender to capitalist pressures and threat to the sovereignty of the country.
The Central government employees all over the country exhibited their determination by an unprecedented extent of participation in the strike through out the country.

40th Anniversary of the Historic General Strike of 19th January 1982

The decision of the BSNL Employees Union to observe the 40th Anniversary of the historic General Strike of 19th January 1982 is a timely decision, especially on the eve of the General Strike being organised on 23-24 February 2022 as per the call of the 10 Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations including that of Central and State Government employees. On this occasion, it will be appropriate to to look in to the reasons that caused the strike in 1982, the demands and the actual strike action all over India.

The General Strike on 19th January 1982

A Working People’s National Convention was held at Bombay on 4th June 1981 under the auspices of the Central Trade Unions to discuss about the grave situation arising out of the anti-people, anti-worker policies of the Central government and to prepare for a serious struggle opposing the same. CITU, AITUC, HMS,BMS, UTUC, TUCC,INTUC (Dara), UTUC (LS) as also about 40 Independent Federations, including that of Central-State Government employees participated. Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and NFPTE were represented by their All India leaders. In all, about 2000 delegates and 1000 visitors participated.

The National Campaign Committee (NCC) of Trade Unions was formed to organise sustained struggles against the attacks on the working class. A 13 point Charter of Demands including supply of essential commodities at reasonable price, remunerative prices for the peasants, minimum wage for agricultural workers, stringent action against black-marketeers, Repeal of National Security Act of 1980 & ESMA 1981, Need based minimum wage for working class, full neutralisation in the cost of living, Bonus to all workers, ban on retrenchment and closures, withdrawal of all victimisation, Recognition of unions on the basis of secret ballot, full guarantee of collective bargaining and trade union rights etc.

The Convention called for agitational programmes including State/Region wise conventions, Rallies all over India on 3rd November 1981, March to Parliament on 23rd November 1981 followed by One Day Token General strike on 19th January 1982.

The March and Rally organised on 23rd November 1981 at the Boat Club was massive, participated by lakhs of workers, including central- state government employees from all parts of India. The workers marched through the streets of New Delhi and assembled at the Boat Club. (At that time, processions and rallies were allowed up to Boat Club, very near to Parliament). A huge pandal was constructed in which the leaders sat and addressed the mammoth rally. After the Inauguration, the central trade union leaders went to the Parliament, submitted the Charter of Demands, returned and addressed the rally.

On the same day, Confederation and NFPTE met and discussed about successfully implementing the strike decision. While the progressive section in NFPTE led by Com. N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others were for joining the strike called by National campaign Committee, the group led by Com.O.P.Gupta, SG NFPTE was for solidarity action. The SG NFPTE announced that solidarity demonstrations and dharna will be organised. But the progressive section was for strike.

The strike was a big success all over India affecting all sectors. In Kerala and W.Bengal, the entire P and T Workers went on strike. There were partial strikes in other circles also. In all centres, solidarity actions were organised by central government employees. One hour walk-out was observed by Audit and Income Tax employees.

The strike was ruthlessly met by the government. 10 workers were killed on the day and became martyrs. Thousands were awarded with dies-non and break-in-service. It took many years to vacate the victimisation.

The 19th January 1982 strike was a starting point for subsequent united struggles of the working class. The progressive section in NFPTE and Confederation were appreciated by the workers for their correct stand.

40 years are over after the great 1982 united strike. In the last General Strike called by the 10 Central Trade Unions, more than 25 crore workers participated. The central, state and PSU employees also participated in full. The strike in BSNL was full with BSNL Employees Union and other unions calling for strike.

While preparing for the two days General Strike on 23-24th February 2022, the memory of the First general Strike in 1982 will certainly inspire the workers.

The Second General Strike by Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations on 16th June 1992.

The second strike against the anti-people, anti- worker policies of the Central Government was organised on 16th June 1992 as per call of CITU and a few other Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations of CG Employees, State Govt employees etc.

For registering a total opposition to the IMF/World Bank oriented policies, the danger arising out of indiscriminate privatisation of P&T services, PSUs including Banks, LIC etc, closure of govt departments, the strike call was given. The Confederation of CG employees raised the issues of 51% DA Merger, regularisation of EDAs & Casual Labour, implementation of Arbitration Awards etc.,

The central govt employees, as also P&T employees, participated in large numbers in the strike, though the dominating leadership of NFTE was vaccilating. The progressive section in NFTE led by Com. Moni Bose fully participated. Though on the last occasion,  full strike was limited to certain circles, this time it was full almost in all telecom circles.

The irritated central government initiated victimisation, but mostly limited to Dies-non and Break-in-service. These were taken by the unions for being vacated.

The number of participants in the second General Strike was much more than in the First General Strike. More and more workers were responding to the strike call given by Central TUs.

III

The General Strike on 29th November 1991.

GENERAL STRIKES AGAINST NEO-LIBERAL POLICIES  -1

The General Strike on 29th November 1991.

The first general strike against liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation policy of the central govt was organised on 29th November 1991. It was the All India Trade Union Convention held on 17th September 1991 which took the historic decision.

capitalism which got upperhand after the collapse of USSR was making all out attacks on the working class and progressive forces. India govt was not different. IMF was putting its pressure on India. Amendment on Sick Industrial Companies Act 1985 was moved in Parliament which was to help the corporates to order lock out against the interests of workers. Selling shares of PSUs were proposed with FDI up to 51%. There was move to privatise defence production, telecom operations etc. Govt was taking anti- worker steps for availing IMF loan.

It was against these anti-worker, anti-people proposals and policies that CITU and certain other trade unions called for one day strike on 29th November 1991.

The central govt employees under the leadership of the Confederation of CG Employees & Workers actively campaigned for the strike. An All India Convention was organised on 10th November 1991, which decided to extend full solidarity to the Industrial strike.

The strike in central govt establishments was full in Kerala, W.Bengal, Assam, NE regions etc. Massive dharnas and rallies were held in other places. As per call of the new leadership of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III headed by V.A.N.Namboodiri & Moni Bose as President and General Secretary, telecom workers all over India participated in large numbers.

The strike was massive in all sectors, despite of the fact that some of the Central TUs, including INTUC, had not given the strike call. The importance of the strike was that it heralded the many strikes against anti- worker neoliberal policies. It was a starting point.

 

CGHS WEBINAR

CGHS, known for providing comprehensive health care services to its beneficiaries, is conducting a series of short webinars of 60–90-minute duration with active participation of its beneficiaries to provide information on common health related issues. These webinars are being scheduled at 4.00 pm on 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. A 30-40 minutes presentation by a CGHS Doctor will be followed by 30 minutes of answering of relevant questions from the beneficiaries.

It is expected that these webinars will provide useful information to CGHS beneficiaries and create awareness on various health conditions, provide guidance on promotive care, lifestyle modification and also dispel many health-related myths and doubts.

The twenty-ninth in the series is being held on 11/01/2022 (Tuesday) at 4.00PM on “How to address the issues/concerns of a teenage child” for CGHS beneficiaries by Dr. Radhika Jindal, Associate Professor Endocrinology, SJ Hospital, New Delhi.

The link for attending the webinar is as follows:

 https://cghshq.webex.com/meet/adhq.dl

A meeting of the NCCPA Secretariat was held online on 09-01-2022 under the presidentship of Com.Shiv Gopal Mishra, President. Com. K K N Kutty, Secretary General welcomed and briefed on the two agenda items. All the 17 participants aired their views on both the issues of Solidarity action to the two days national strike and action against the frozen DR of 18 months. Finally it was decided to hold massive dharnas at district levels on 22-02-2022 in solidarity to the national strike. National level webinar will be held by NCCPA on two subjects; (1) National issues and (2) Pensioners issues. Affiliated associations may also hold such webinars on their own issues. District level webinar be organised on 23-02-2022, the first day of the strike. The resolution adopted in support of the national strike will be sent to the Prime Minister. A Press Communique also will be released in this regard. It was also decided to seek legal remedy to get back the frozen Dearness Relief of 18 months. A detailed circular will be issued by the Secretary General in due course. Representing AIBDPA, Coms. V A N Namboodiri (Patron) K G Jayaraj (Deputy Secretary General) S Mohandoss( Asst. Secretary General) and S S Maurya (Organising Secretary) attended and participated in the discussion.

The Co-Ordination Committee (CoC) of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF held it’s meeting online on 06.01.2022 and has decided to organise black badge wearing demonstrations massively on 25.01.2022, demanding immediate settlement of the following issues. It is also decided that, memorandums would be submitted to the GMs and CGMs on that day.

(1)   The BSNL Management is deliberately delaying payment of the frozen IDA arrears to the Non-Executives. The CMD BSNL is taking revenge and not paying the IDA arrears, since BSNLEU had dragged him to the Hon’ble Kerala High Court, against the freezing of the IDA.

(2)   Blatant discrimination is being meted out to the retired employees, by the BSNL Management, in the matter of payment of medical bills. The CMD BSNL is intentionally delaying the payment of medical bills to the retired employees, with the view to force them to leave the BSNL MRS and migrate to the CGHS. Payment of Medical Allowance to the retired employees had also been stopped.

(3)   The BSNL Management is adopting a lackadaisical attitude in the matter of holding the LICEs of the Non-Executives. By delaying the holding of the LICEs, the Management is jeopardising the promotional prospects and the future of the young BSNL employees.

(4)   Management is not paying the wage arrears of the contract workers. In many places, wages are not paid to the contract workers even up to 18 months. This is also nothing but the vindictive action of the CMD BSNL.

The CHQ of BSNLEU calls on the circle and district unions to coordinate with AIBDPA and BSNL CCWF and to organise the programme successfully.

[Date : 08 – Jan – 2022]

Congratulations to BSNLEU for taking decision to observe the 40th anniversary of the historic strike of 19th January 1982 sponsored by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions on the major demands of the workers.

CHQ has been continuously pursuing the issue of non-payment of medical benefits to the BSNL pensioners as one of the most burning issues. We have discussed the issue several times with the CMD, BSNL and took up with higher authorities like Secretary, DOT, Secretary, DOP&PW, Hon’ble Minister of Communications, Hon’ble Prime Minister and recently the most hon’ble President of India. We have conducted many agitations on our own, then with NCCPA, Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers and Coordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA & BSNL CCWF. BSNLEU also took up the issue seriously with the BSNL management.

Now, the BSNL management has reluctantly allotted a meagre amount for payment of medical benefits to the BSNL pensioners. This fund allocation is not even sufficient to clear the reimbursement of medical bills of the pensioners upto 30-09-2019. Worse, in many circles, according to reports received so far, the optees of without voucher, medical allowance, are completely ignored. This has caused much discontentment and dissatisfaction among the BSNL pensioners. This is nothing but adding fuel to the fire. It has also come to our notice that in certain circles the names of the optees of without voucher (medical Allowance) are not entered in ERP resulting in non-payment. It is another form of discrimination and has to be resisted and defeated. Circle Secretaries are requested to collect the exact position and send the report to CHQ so that the issue could be further taken up with the appropriate authorities.