Wednesday, March 30, 2022
2022 March 28 and 29 two-day strike in Madurai - Transport Employees picketing Railway station on 28th- Solidarity support by Indian Southern Region Postal Pensioners Welfare Association (ISRPPWA)and Central State Public sector pensioners Confederation( CSPPC)
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| Arrested women workers in Aattu makamai nithi kalayana Mandapam |
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| Com P.Sermuga Pandian with Com T.Thirumalaisamy General Secretary TTSF. in the same Mandapam |
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| Women workers arrested are boarding the bus |
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| With Com T Thirumalaisamy TTSF |
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March 28, 29 , 2022 strike on media coverage
Anger is growing among the workforce across public and private sectors as well as scheme workers over the Modi government’s policies, said the Joint Forum.
New Delhi: The two-day nationwide strike on March 28-29, called by 10 central trade unions (CTUs), saw widespread participation across sectors “despite the threats of victimisation and intimidation by the employers as well as the governments."
From banks and insurance to railways, ports, telecom, coal mines, refineries to transport, tea gardens to scheme workers --- all sections of the working population came out on the streets to express their anger against PSU privatisation, dilution of labour laws, contractualisation of jobs, new pension scheme, lack of social security, price rise, falling incomes among others and pledged to intensify their fight to “Save the Nation and Save the People”
“The participation crossed 20 crores (the first day itself) facing all odds, ESMA, intimidation, and obstructions of all kinds including the high handedness of police in some cases and high court order in Kerala prohibiting strike for BPCL and Govt. employees,” a statement by the joint platform said.
The central trade unions that are part of the joint forum are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.
“The huge success of the two days’ general strike is an unambiguous warning to the Modi led BJP government, gloating over its recent electoral victories, that the workers and toiling people of this country are not going to tolerate its pro corporate and pro Super Rich neoliberal policies that enrich these exploiters by putting unbearable burdens on the toiling masses; that it cannot go ahead handing over the country’s wealth and resources including natural resources to the big corporates, domestic and foreign,” said a statement by CITU.
The strike call by trade unions was backed by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer organisations that spearheaded the year-long farmers’ movement against three Central farm laws. Agricutural workers also participated in the strike call by joining in road blockades in several states.
"Workers in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have joined the strike on the second day in addition to the workforce of the state on the agitation on Monday. Workers in almost all sectors have joined the strike. We got a good response from the rural band," Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), told PTI.
The 12-point charter of demands of the striking unions include scrapping of the four labour codes, no privatisation in any form, scrapping of National Monetisation Pipeline, increased allocation of wages under MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and regularisation of contract workers.
"There is a bandh-like situation in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Assam, Haryana and Jharkhand," the forum said.
According to the forum, agitations were held in many industrial areas across Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
Workers staged protests at several places and unions claimed the agitation had an impact in coal mining belts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh on Monday.
“Private sector industrial units including many MNCs witnessed massive strike action on both the days in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Telangana and Haryana. Hydel power projects also witnessed massive strike in Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Jammu & Kashmir,” the statement read.
HARYANA: WOMEN TAKE THE LEAD IN MILLENNIUM CITY
In Gurugram, 36-year-old Renu, a cook-cum-helper, whose normal work day is from 7 a.m till late afternoon at a government primary school in Gurugram’s Chakkarpur village. After that, she manages a small embroidery business at home. Yet, the mother of two finds it difficult to make ends meet.
“My honorarium” – being considered as a volunteer under PM Poshan, earlier known as school Mid-Day Meal Scheme, she is not entitled to ‘wages’ – “is only Rs. 3,500. You tell me, how should I run my house in such a paltry income? There is not enough of embroidery work since the last many months,” she told Newsclick.
Renu is among the lakhs of scheme workers – anganwadi workers and helpers, mid-day meal workers, and ASHAs, among others – who has been at the forefront to provide supplementary food and nutrition along with health services to women and children in the country.
On Tuesday, Renu joined rallies and meetings by the all-women workforce to press the Centre to consider them as ‘government employees’ – it is a demand that has been pending for far too many years now.
In the millennium city, known to house top MNCs and industrial houses, the scheme workers, emboldened by an ongoing work strike of the anganwadi workers and helpers in the State, took the lead in protesting against the economic policies of the Narendra Modi – led Central Government.
“Today, we are not just protesting for the issues of one or two sections of the workers… it is fight for the whole working class in the country,” said Sarla Yadav, an anganwadi worker. The 42-year-old has been on strike, along with her “comrades”, since December 8 last year to demand, among others, an increment in their monthly honorarium –promised to them by the Central governemnt in 2018.
She was served a termination notice by the Manohar Lal Khattar – led BJP government in January this year, in a move that was flayed by the anganwadi caregivers’ unions in the State as a “repressive action.”
“For last four months, with no income, I am depended only on help from neighbours and my relatives to support my family,” said the mother of a daughter, adding that “the present government does not think about the welfare of the workers.”
The anger and despair among the workers was palpable. Ankit Lal (name changed) of one Sanoh India Private Limited, an automotive part manufacturer in Manesar that supplies auto components to Maruti Suzuki, said the rolling out of labour codes will make permanent jobs in the industrial sector a thing of past.
“Since 2000, not even a single worker has been regularised in the factory,” Lal alleged, adding that, as a result of which, only a fourth of the total manpower in the company is a permanent worker currently.
Highlighting similar concerns, A R Sindhu, national secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), said the trade union movement in the industrial sector had been “dull” for the past few years in the country. “Yet, what we are seeing right now is that this trend is taking a new turn, finding encouragement from struggles waged over the years by scheme workers.”
Satbir Singh, state vice president, CITU – Haryana agreed that “women of Haryana are very close in bringing the State government down on its knees”.
Ronak Chhabra from Gurugram
MAHARASHTRA: GOOD RESPONSE
In Mumbai Mahul's thousands of residents held 'Jan Jagaran Yatra' in Mahul, Mankhurd, Chembur, Shivajinagar area of Mumbai in support of the striking workers. People walking from lane to lane receiving support from citizens. The outrage over killing inflation was visible in Mumbai's working class areas that house families of street vendors, naka kamgar, helpers etc.
"People are realising that the common man is the victim of policies of Modi government. From inflation to ending security to labourers as well as various schemes of social security. The response to our rallies was tremendous on both days," said Jagdish Khairaliya, general secretary of Shramik Seva Sangh.
Mumbai is the financial capital of India. All the nationalised banks near Dalal Street were running on low capacity for two days.
"Modi government will have to repeal the four anti-labour laws, which are killing the voice of labourers and helping crony capitalists ignore labour rights. People need to stand up against these changes for their and their children’s future," said Vishwas Utagi, leader of a bank employees union.
Anganwadi workers also came out on both days as they have been protesting for hike in honorarium, pension, quality mobile phones, user friendly app to fill information about their work etc.
Industrial towns like Nasik, Aurangabad, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad also seen effect of strike. CITU leaders like DL Karad, Vasant Pawar, Rajani Pisal, Shubha Shamim and others lead the strike in Nasik and Pune.
CPM MLA Vinod Nikole joined the protest in Dahanu. On Tuesday, a rasta roko was held at multiple locations in Palghar district. Hundreds of labourers and farmers joined the protest. All India Kisan Sabha also participated in Nasik, Ahmednagar, Sangali, Solapur in the national strike.
Former MLA Narasayya Aadam led the morcha of bidi workers and workers in mills in Solapur, who attended in large numbers. "Over the years I have seen that the labourers join hands firmly when the attack in their rights increases. Recent developments of new labour laws are attacks on labourers interests. This strong movement will reach all corners of India," said Aadam.
Amey Tirodkar from Mumbai
TAMIL NADU: WORKERS PROTEST IN LARGE NUMBERS
Many sectors were on halt for the second consecutive day in Tamil Nadu. The massive participation of state transport corporation workers for two days in a row has shaken up the state. The big participation of ICDS workers in the all-India general strike also had a big impact in the state.
Many demonstrations were held in industrial belts across the state in industrial localities in North Chennai - Thiruvatriyur, Ambattur and Perambur, and Kanchipuram for the second day in a row.
While the participation of workers dropped in several sectors, there was an increase in some others. The participation of DMK-affiliated union workers fell on the second day. Maximum participation was from CITU and AITUC.
Around one lakh members of the Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association of 64 departments boycotted work on the second day. Workers from the revenue department participated in big numbers. Others included employees of the departments of rural development, agriculture, social welfare, etc.
On the second day of the strike, around 50,000 bank employees associated with BEFI, AIBOA and AIBEA went on strike in Tamil Nadu, while under the leadership of AIIEA and LICAO, 92% of insurance and LIC workers boycotted work and held demonstrations.
Tuticorin Port was on complete strike today for the second day. The 500 permanent workers, 750 contract workers and 1,000 odd private shipping company workers boycotted work. The workers restricted entry of all lorries and voiced their anger against the Union government’s move to privatise ports in the country.
In the highly profitable pharma sector, under the leadership of FMRAI, around 10,000 sales promotion employees across Tamil Nadu went on strike today.
Around 30% of the workers of the union government run power sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) were on strike in Trichy today.
Sruti MD from Chennai
WEST BENGAL: ORGANISED, UNORGANISED SECTOR WORKERS JOIN
The two-day strike call was effective in most part of the state, both among the organised and unorganised sectors, especially in the jute sector where 26 out of 52 mills were completely closed.
Bus services in Kolkata were more or less normal. However, in other districts, bus services were affected as nearly 100% bus workers joined the strike.
Engineering units Howrah district remained closed despite large scale police mobilisation by the state government to foil the Bharat Bandh call.
In West Bengal’s tea gardens, over 60% units remained closed and in the other units 60% of workers ditched work, according to sources in the Centre of Indian Trade Unions.
CITU sources said Eveready Batteries, a big manufacturing unit, remained completely closed, while workers in Britannia, Lipton, ITC, Indian Oil, Oil India and other big corporates also joined the strike in varying numbers.
About 65% of hosiery units remained closed and in the case of Braithwaite, Burn Standard, Jessop Construction, United Paints, Hind Ice remained closed.
All major markets, such as Barabazaar , Posta Chandni Chowk , New Market also remained closed. The police arrested 17 persons from central Kolkata for picketing during the strike.
According to CITRU sources, the strike was 100% in the banking and financial sector, 90% in Central units in the state, such as income tax department, postal services, Botanical Survey, Geological Survey etc.
In Darjeeling district, over 60% success was seen in the tea sector, while in Jalpaiguri district over 65 % tea gardens were closed. In Alipurduar , the strike was a 70% success, while in North Dinajpur over 50% units remained closed .
Over 30% coal workers joined the strike, as also in Durgapur steel plant and Burnpur Iisco.
Even 62% Ola and Uber cab drivers joined the strike, as per CITU
Sandip Chakraborty from Kolkata
ASSAM: SECOND DAY OF DETENTIONS AND PROTESTS
For the second consecutive day, a massive bandh was witnessed across Assam, including Guwahati, with almost complete absence of public transport on the roads. Different sectors including refinery unions, tea workers’ union along with the CTUs organised protest demonstrations, rallies, sit-ins and picketing in different parts of the state.
Reports of detention of peaceful protesters were reported from several places. At Sarupeta in Barpeta district protesters were detained at the Sarupeta police station for several hours.
Similarly, at Rangia of Kamrup district, several protesters were detained by police while taking out a protest rally.
Nirangkush Nath, a student leader, said at majority of places across the state, police resorted to detention of the protestors. Despite this, protestors were high in spirit, adding that “we have seen a successful completion of the all-India general strike.”
The refinery unions, tea garden workers’ union, Assam roofings’ workers’ union bank employees also held protests, sit ins, picketing at several places.
Sandipan Talukdar from Guwahati
Courtesy Newsclick https://www.newsclick.in/Massive-Participation-Seen-Across-Sectors-2-Day-Nationwide-Strike-Call-CTU-Ends
மோடியின் தலைமையிலான மத்திய அரசின்தொழிலாளர் விரோதக் கொள்கைகளை கண்டித்து இந்திய தொழிலாளி வர்க்கத்தின் ஒப்பற்ற போராட்டம்
மோடியின் தலைமையிலான மத்திய அரசின் மக்கள் விரோத தொழிலாளர் விரோதக் கொள்கைகளை கண்டித்து தேசம் முழுதும் மார்ச் 2022, 28 &29 இரு தினங்களில் நடைபெற்ற இந்திய தொழிலாளி வர்க்கத்தின் ஒப்பற்ற போராட்டம்.மத்திய தொழிற்சங்கங்களின் தேசிய மேடையும் , மத்திய/மாநில அரசுகளின் சம்மேளனங்களும், சங்கங்களும் இப்போராட்டத்திற்கு அறைகூவல் விடுத்திருந்தன
இப்போது பிஜேபி தலைமையில் மத்தியில் ஆளுகின்ற தேசிய ஜனநாயக கூட்டணி அரசு வாக்கு வங்கி அரசியலுக்காக மக்களிடம் தேசியவாத மற்றும் மதவாத உணர்வுகளை தட்டி எழுப்பி மத
துவேசங்களை/ மோதல்களை உண்டாக்கி வருகிறது
. இந்துமதக் காவலர்கள் தாங்களே என்று சொல்லிவருகிறது . பிற மதத்தினர் மீது
வெறுப்பை உமிழும் அமைப்புகளை வெளிப்படையாகவும் ,மறைமுகமாகவும் தட்டிக்கொடுத்து
வருகிறது.
இது ஒருபுறம் இருக்க , இன்னொருபுறம் கார்ப்போரேட்களின் நலம் காக்கும்
அரசாகவும் , பொதுமக்களின் , தொழிலாளர்களின் , விவசாயிகளின் நலனுக்கு எதிராக
செயல்படும் அரசாக இருந்து வருகிறது
இந்திய தொழிலாளர்கள் போராடிப்பெற்ற உரிமைகளை உள்ளடக்கிய 44 தொழிலாளர் நலம் காக்கும் சட்டங்களை ஒழித்துவிட்டு பெரு முதலாளிகளுக்கு ஆதரவாக புதிய நான்கு
தொழிலாளர் சட்டத் தொகுப்புகளை ( New Labour Codes) நிறைவேற்றியுள்ளது.
பெரு
முதலாளிகளுக்கு வரிச்சலுகைகளை வாரிவழங்கும் வள்ளலாய் இருக்கிற மத்திய அரசு தொழிலாளர்களின்
பி.எப்.வட்டி விகிதத்தை 8.5 லிருந்து 8.1
ஆக குறைத்துள்ளது
லாபம் தரும் பொதுத்துறை நிறுவனங்களை தனியார்மயப்படுத்த எல்லா தகிடுதித்த
வேலைகளையும் செய்துவருகிறது .ரயில்வேயை
தனியார் மயமாக்க 100 தடங்களில் தனியார்கள்
ரயில் இயக்க டெண்டர் விட்டுள்ளது. ஏர்
இந்தியாவை அடிமாட்டு விலைக்கு டாட்டாவுக்கு விற்றுவிட்டது . இது போலவே வங்கிகள்,இன்சூரன்ஸ் ராணுவ தளவாட உற்பத்தி நிலக்கரி,ஸ்டீல்,விமானத்துறை, துறைமுகங்கள் போன்ற அரசுத்துறை/பொதுத்துறைகளில்
தனியார்மயத்தை முடுக்கியுள்ளது.
அரசின் நிலங்களையும் கட்டிடங்களையும் கார்பொரேட் களுக்கு விற்ப்பதற்க்காக “நிலத்தை
பணமாகும் தேசிய நிறுவனத்தை” உருவாக்கி உள்ளது
அஞ்சல் துறையிலும் டாக் மித்ரா திட்டம் மூலம் கார்ப்போரேட்கள் , சொசைட்டிகள், தனிநபர்கள் அஞ்சல் நிலையங்களை திறக்கலாம் , அஞ்சல்துறை அதற்க்கான பயிற்சியோடு , அங்கு மெயில்பைகள் கொடுக்க வாங்க எல்லா வசதிகளையும் செய்து தரும் . இந்த தனியார் அஞ்சலகங்கள் டெலிவரி பணியை செய்யும் , Speed Post , registration உள்ளிட்ட அனைத்து புக்கிங்கோடு சேமிப்பு வங்கி பணியையும் செய்யுமாம் . அஞ்சல் துறையை ஓய்த்துக்கட்ட அரசு செய்யவிருக்கிற தனியார்மய நடவடிக்கையாகும் இந்த திட்டம்
தேசம் காப்போம் ,மக்களைக் காப்போம் என்ற முழக்கத்தோடு நடை பெற்ற இப்போராட்டத்தை தனது வரலாற்று கடமையாக கருதி களம் இறங்கிய அனைவருக்கும் எனது செவ்வணக்கம்.
12-Point charter of demands for General strike on March 28th and 29th 2022:
In support of the decision of National Convention of Workers and at call of The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent sectoral All India Federations and Associations have issued call upon India working class to strike work on March 28th and 29th 2022 on the following charter of demands
12 points common Charter of Demands,
1. Scrapping the Labour Codes,
Scrapping of Essential Defence Services Act;
2. Accept 6-point charter of
demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha;
3. No to Privatization in any
form and scrap the National Monetization Policy;
4. Food and Income Support of Rs.
7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
5. Increased allocation for
MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to Urban Areas;
6. Universal social security for
all informal sector workers;
7. Statutory Minimum wage and
social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other Scheme workers;
8. Proper protection and
insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of
pandemic;
9. Increase in public investment
in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing
the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national
economy;
10. Substantial reduction in
Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to
arrest price rise;
11. Regularization of contract
workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all;
12. Cancellation of NPS and
restoration of old pension substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees’
Pension Scheme.
NFPE-
CHARTER OF DEMANDS
1.
Scrap
New Pension Scheme and restore Old Pension Scheme. Grant compensation for no
deposit or delayed deposit of contribution under NPS.
2.
Stop
privatization move and opening of Franchisee outlets and withdraw Dak Mitra
Scheme.
3.
Withdraw
orders of putting restriction for holding two terms in union and implementation
of Rule 15(i)(c) of CCS (Conduct) Rules — 1964. Stop attack on unions.
4.
Ensure
consistent and fast NSP-l connectivity to all offices, supported by adequate
NSP-2 backup. Enhance capacity of Finacle server. Ensure convenient
availability of SAP and Employees.
5.
Membership
verification for GDS and grant of limited Trade Union facilities to the AIPE
Union —GDS at par with BPEF Unions. Implement remaining recommendations of Shri
Kamlesh Chandra Committee for GDS particularly ACP, promotion and Medical
Insurance. Workload norms for BPMs and ABPMs must be reviewed. Withdraw
Directorate orders for not taking the issue of GDS by Federations.
6.
Stop
Nodal Delivery Centres for Delivery of Parcels and Central Delivery Centres
delivery of Speed Post Letters.
7.
Settle
all COVID related issues. Grant Special leave for COVID treatment to all
employees including GDS. Regularize absence due to lockdown as work from home as
per direction of DOPT. Include Postal and GDS employees in priority list for
Vaccination. Grant comp COVID. Grant of Compulsory Compassionate appointment to
one ward of the deceased employee due to COVID-19.
8.
Fill
up all vacant posts in all cadres including HSG-II/HSG-I posts by relaxing the
norms. Allow HSG-I RMS officials to take part in PSS Group 'B' and AAO Exam.
Fill up vacant posts of Canteen Staff. Recruitment should be made by the
Department of Post instead of SSC. Grant of Special Allowance to PO & RMS
Accountants.
9.
Payment
of DA/DR arrears for 18th months with held period and grant notional benefit
for Pensionary payments for the officials who retired during this period.
10.
Settle
the issues of denial of increment after 180 days as on 1st July to the
officials who opted the fixation on promotions /financial up-gradation. 180
days may be treated as 6 months.
11.
Implement
Cadre restructuring in all left out Categories in Department of Post.
12.
Stop
harassment of officials in the name of unscientific business targets, Login, Mega
login days for IPPB and other business related works and compelling the
officials to work on Sunday and Holidays for melas etc.
13.
Withdraw
Rule 265 of Postal Manual Volume IV regarding yearly examination in sorting for
granting annual increment for SAs in RMS.
14.
Resume
all transit sections of RMS whenever the trains start operation. Allow minimum
50 seats in all sections and two doors for mail exchange and Discontinue RTN
(Road Transport Network).
15.
Stop
merger and closure of L-2 Mail offices. Strengthen L-2 offices by introduction
Parcel Hub and Speed Post Centres. Fix norms for work-in CRC.
16.
Conduct
physical meetings of all types regularly at all levels,
17.
Stop
Downsizing & Decentralization of Postal Accounts. Repatriate all officials
who have been transferred to PAO Vijayawada against their option. SCF quota to
Sr. Accountant for promotion in AAO Cadre. Allow Postal Accounts officials in
PSS Group 'B' Exam.
18.
Stop
harassment of SBCO officials in the name of contributory negligence factor.
SBCO should be brought under control of DA(P) / GM(Finance) with change in
nomenclature
19.
Maintain
separate Identity of all Cadres i.e. PA CO/PA SBCO etc.
20.
Absorb
Part-time, Full time Casual labourers against MTS and GDS vacancies.
21.
Up-gradation
of APAR as one time measure.
Five Days week in Postal, RMS & MMS offices
AIGDS Union demands
1.
Scrap the labour codes.
2.
Scrap New pension scheme and reintroduce old pension
Rules under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 -
cover GDS under the provisions of 1972 Pension Rules.
3.
Universal social security for all workers including
GDS.
4.
Proper insurance for front line workers including GDS.
5.
Stop privatization of all services including postal
services.
6.
Grant the status of Civil Servant to the GDS
employees.
7.
Grant of time bound career progression -
the Kamlesh
Chandra Committee has recommended that the GDS employees should be
granted three career progressions on completion
12, 24 and 36 years of service.
8.
Enhancement of the amount of group insurance to Rs
5,00,000 (five lacs).
9.
Accumulation of leave up to 180 days.
10. Grant
of medical facilities to GDS employees.
11. Abolition
of incentive/honorarium scheme and adding the work to work norms.
12. Payment
of all retirement benefits on the day of retirement.
13. Stop
fixing of unrealistic targets in several of work/business and stop
harassment to GDS.
14. Withdrawal of unscientific and unjustified
order on substitute
arrangements in the short term and long term vacant posts of GDS.
Bank unions Demands are
a.
Strengthen
Public Sector Banks;
b. Stop Privatisation of Banks;
c. Stop haircuts-Start recovery of bad loans;
d. Increase rate of interest on Bank Deposits;
e. Do not burden customers with high service charges;
f. Scrap NPS Restore DA linked Pension scheme;
g. Stop outsourcing-Start recruitments;
h. Regularise all contract employees & BCs;
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