NATIONAL PROTEST DAY ON 23RD SEPTEMBER 2020 – CONFEDERATION NEWS
CENTRE OF INDIAN TRADE UNIONS
K HEMALATA
President
Circular no. 91/2020
TAPAN SEN. Ex-M.P.
General Secretary
10th September 2020
To
All State Committees of CITU
All Industrywise Federations
All Office Bearers of CITU
All General Council Members of CITU
Sub: NATIONAL PROTEST DAY ON 23RD SEPTEMBER 2020
Dear Comrades,
Please find attached the circular of the joint platform of trade unions on the National Protest Day on 23rd September 2020, during the Parliament session that starts on 14th September.
The participation in the joint protest actions during the lockdown period has been consistently increasing. We have been mobilising, on the whole as well as in many states, the largest number of workers in these actions, though, compared to our independent actions, this number is observed to be lower. This needs to be overcome and we have to mobilise in full strength in this protest action on 23rd September.
The participation of workers in struggles including strikes, both in the organised and unorganised sectors and by scheme workers, has been consistently increasing despite not only the difficulties due to lockdown but also repressive acts by the governments like arrests, booking of false cases etc. This clearly indicates the mood of the workers to fight against the onslaught on their rights and working conditions. The present situation vindicates our stand that united struggles have to be taken to a higher level of defiance and resistance. This requires wider and deeper preparatory campaign linking up not only the national issues but the local issues as well with the policies of the government Serious efforts must be made by all our state committees to ensure observance of the protest action in much larger number of places and bigger mobilisations.
All the state committees and federations are requested to take two-fold initiatives for preparatory campaign for the 23rd September programme:
1) Independent campaign among the mass of the workers and common people on the issues and demands with a distinct focus on linking issues with the destructive policies and exposing the politics promoting such barbarous policy regime. The circular of the joint trade union platform should be translated in local languages and circulated among mass of the workers and people in widest possible way. It is absolutely important to involve our lowest level committees in this effort keeping in view or organisational task.
2) Our state and federation committees must take initiative to coordinate with the other constituents of joint trade union platform to develop such coordination up to the district/ block levels. We have to make efforts to ensure effective joint campaigns up to the lowest possible level.
Our actions must be able to effectively challenge the belligerent and adamant attitude of the BJP led government and the ruling classes The 23rd September all India protest day must be observed with this spirit, ensuring greater visibility and involvement of workers and people in general, in all major industrial centres, towns and cities. With greetings.
Enel: Joint circular by CTUs
Yours Comradely,
sd/-
(Tapan Sen)
General Secretary
09th September, 2020
Circular from CTUs for state units and respective federations/associations
Dear Friends & Comrades,
The joint platform of the Central Trade Union organisations in its meeting on 31st August resolved to intensify their united agitations to newer heights against the aggressive moves of the government to suppress and alter labour rights legislations through executive orders/ Ordinances, aggressive and destructive disinvestment/privatisation of Central and state public sector enterprises including vital financial sector, railways, defence, steel, petroleum, electricity etc, continuing job losses, wage cuts, forced premature retirements being imposed on Govt. Employees and those in PSUs, DA-DR freeze etc., anti-people changes in management of agriculture and farm trade and virtual abrogation of Essential Commodities Act through Ordinances, attack on the democratic rights of working masses and the other sections of the society. We consider all these moves of the government as anti people and disastrous for the National interest.
The shocking news of Indian GDP going down to minus 23.9% is already creating panic amongst various sections of society. India tops in dip of GDP amongst Nations. The others in chronology stand as UK -minus20.4%, France -minus13.8%, Italy -minus 12.4%, Canada -minus 12%, Germany – minus 10.1%, USA -minus 9.5%, Japan -minus7.6%, China – plus 3.2%.
Unemployment rate which had been worst in 45 years in 2019 is rising with a speed never seen before. The periodic details from CMIE reflects on the situation of unemployment, wage depression, wage cuts, adverse impact on women employment as well as loss of employment, growing precarious conditions of work at work sites, despite continued increase in profit in totality. Some studies have focussed on rising depression and anxiety specially amongst the younger generation as they happen to be the largest percentage of job losers in a scenario when the businesses and industry are reportedly employing workforce between 30 to 50 only. The ground reality that highly qualified youngsters are seeking semi skilled or unskilled jobs as a survival strategy, the semi skilled have also entered into unskilled job profiles and the space for unskilled workers is shrinking. The urban poor like street vendors, waste recyclers, riksha pullers, drivers, loaders-unloaders, coolies, domestic workers etc. have been put into extreme distress receiving no attention from Government. The child labour is showing rising trend reflecting the grip of hunger and no cash at home a ground reality. The violence against women and children is also increasing including domestic violence, some studies have shown.
The government is totally on denial mode rather twisting the facts to paint a picture of everything being normal and that the economy is reviving at full scale. The so-called package of revival of 20 lakh crores had been exposed by the economists as practically fraudulent manipulation in the name of relief to poor whereas not even 1% of that Rs 20 lakh crore has flown to common people. Actual expenditure from exchequer on that package is only 1.5% of GDP as against the government claim of 10% of GDP, 8.5% of this 10% is actually loans only with government guarantees. Another set of package is forthcoming which would further fill the coffers of big corporates of India, more attack on small sector and the local and indigenous businesses and the common people. During this time the wealth of big corporate houses have been rising e.g; Mukesh Ambani having increased his wealth by 35% from April onwards during covid period. Mr. Modi has already taken U-turn on the question of job creation when he promised 2 crore new jobs every year according to the skill and qualification of the person. The government now proclaims that they would be encouraging the youth not to be job seekers but the job creators, whereas the Government is literally killing the MSME sector, the Farmers and those in the agri- based activities and co-operative sector which are the sectors for majority of employment and livelihood generation for the people.
The sufferings of front rank pandemic fighters-Doctors, Nurses, Paramedical Staff, Safai Karamcharies, Asha and Anganwadi Workers etc. continues to rise with every passing day with the government remaining stubbornly negative on their basic entitlements related demands.
In this background the anguish amongst masses is growing which found reflection in the response on the call of CTUs the working class observed S}01 August, the Quit India Day as ‘Save India Day’. It became historic moment when the workers and farmers were on streets all over India for their respective agenda, and moved together also in many places. Modi Govt, instead of taking cognizance of the situation, not only used its home dept to put FIRs on agitators but arrogantly announced to carry forward its policies of selling the nation. 18″” August was also observed with the slogan of ‘Save Public Sector’- ‘Save India’ by the unions. It has become imperative for the CTUs to raise the pitch of opposition and heighten the same to the level of resistance. Hence in its meeting the following decisions taken were.
- To extend support to BPCL strike/protest Actions on 7-8 September 2020.
- Nationwide militant protest on 23rd September 2020 against anti worker destructive policies and also for their immediate demands against wage cuts and loss of employments.
- National Convention of PSUs to be held on 28th September 2020 to discuss and plan for united action by all.
- 12th October the beginning day of indefinite strike by Defence federations to be supported through solidarity actions all over the Country.
The CTUs and Federations note with enthusiasm the rising militant struggles in numerous industries and sectors, both organised and unorganised reflecting increasing determination to combat and resist the anti-people, anti-worker and anti-national destructive policies of the Govt at the centre. Three days Strike in coal, two days strike in BPCL, decision for all in united indefinite strike by defence production sector employees of Ordinance factories from 12“’ October, militant strikes and agitations by ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers in many states, militant agitations including strike in various private sector industries in cement, engineering etc in many states are pointers to the rising determination of the working people to unitedly fight not only to defend their rights and livelihood but also to defend and save the country from destruction and disaster. We need to be prepared for nationwide strike in future.
Friends and Comrades.
There is no time to rest now, we have to determinedly move ahead to save our natural resources and national assets, our hard won labour rights, the jobs wages and livelihoods. The battle lines are drawn and we have to move ahead.
We are sure that the state chapters of CTUs alongwith federations/associations of Central and State PSUs will move together for forceful actions.
sd/-
INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU
AIUTUC, SEWA, TUCC, AICCTU
LPF, UTUC
And Sectoral Federations and Associations
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