working%20class%20march%202014

MONTHLY JOURNAL OF THE CITU

Vol. 44 No. 7 March 2014 Price: Rupees Four

United Andhra Pradesh Anganwadi Employees Rally in Hyderabad on 23 February(report page - 22)

THE WORKING CLASS MARCH 20142

Total Number of Pages in the Working Class Monthly Journal is 28

CITU General Secretary addressing Rally at Guwahati(report page - 18)

Rally at Chenani (J&K)(report page - 18)

MARCH 2014 THE WORKING CLASS 3

EditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorial WORKING CLASS

MARCH, 2014

EDITORIAL BOARD

EditorA.K. Padmanabhan

Working EditorJ.S. Majumdar

MembersTapan SenK. HemalataAmitava Guha

Inside Page

8th March and Our Tasks- A K Padmanabhan 5

Tamilnadu Workers ContributedFund to Fighting Maruti Workersin Haryana 8

Minimum Pension increasedto Rs. 1000- A K Padmanabhan 9

Industry & SectorsStreet VendorsMedia 11Central Public SectorGovernment Employees 12Banks 13

States 14

Working Women 20

International 23

Consumer Price Index 26

Vote for Changing PoliciesThe Finance Minister’s budget speech was a political speech

keeping in view the ensuing Parliament election projectingachievements of ten years Congress led UPA I and II rule. But, all thewhile, he was addressing the big national and multinational corporatesand the international rating agencies. The passage of PFRDA bill,liberalising FDI were counted as achievements while lamenting forfailure to pass the insurance bill. Railways was advised not to dependon budget allocations and depend more on increased marketborrowing and mobilising resources through Public PrivateParticipation.

The concerns for common people, the actual voters in thecoming election, were totally neglected. Working class, whose labourpropels the economy and generates wealth, was completely out ofthe radar of the Finance Minister. In fact, the fiscal deficit wascontained by curtailing Rs 66000 crores expenditure on social sectorslike health and education. On the other side Rs 7.6 lakh crores pilferageof the exchequer by the corporates was indulgently allowed.

When the serious problem of unemployment in the country,particularly of educated youth, the graduates and post graduatesapplying for sweepers’ jobs; no measure for employment generationwas proposed. Severe squeeze on public spending has actuallyresulted in shrinkage of job opportunities.

Finance Minister admitted continued problem of food inflation,yet there was nothing to curb price rise. Prime Minister acknowledgedthe demands of joint trade union movement that minimum wages,social security benefits etc were ‘unexceptionable’ and was ‘in anadvanced stage of consideration’; yet budget contained nothing toensure these. There is nothing for lakhs of anganwadi, mid day meal,ASHA, Yasoda, Mamathas and other scheme workers who workunder deplorable conditions.

BJP hopes to regain power at the centre on people’s growingdiscontent against these policies. But, BJP too has no alternativepolicies. In the recently released ‘book approved as the authorisedversion of its (BJP’s) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’seconomic vision’ titled as Modinomics: Inclusive Economics, InclusiveGovernance saying that Modi’s economic vision is the ‘same’ as thatof Chidambaram. ‘Opinions may be divergent but economics is thesame’.

The working class of the country has been jointly fighting for4 years against these neoliberal policies and for an alternative policy.The Left parties have come forward with such an alternative policyframework and are making efforts to mobilise support for it.

In the ensuing Parliament election, working women and menmust be mobilized in support this alternative policy and to decisivelydefeat both, the Congress and BJP.


Anti-People Interim Budget, Call for Change of PoliciesChidambaram’s 17 February interim budget speech was a gimmick for gains in coming Lok Sabha

election projecting as if it were for aam admi cleverly camouflaging its continued pro-corporate economic regimeand anti-people bias, CITU statement on same day stated. It deliberately compared with the figures of 10 years backhiding the shortcomings of Congress-led UPA governments in between.

Loudly declaring containment of fiscal deficit to 4.6% and proudly claiming stabilizing the economy, it didhide the fact that to meet fiscal deficit budgetary pro-people allocations were deliberately not spent as also in 2013-14 current year’s cut of Rs 5792 Crs in rural development; Rs. 800 Crs in irrigation and flood control; Rs 24359 Crsin transport; Rs 28640 Crs in social services; Rs.11843 Crs in industry & minerals; and also simultaneously cut ofRs.7000 Crs for Health & Family Welfare Ministry; Rs 4000 Crs for Education (Human Resource) Ministry and Rs1000 Crs for Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry totaling Rs.66,000 Crs.

The budget speech also hide the fact that major reason for this fiscal deficit is due to the pilferage ofnational exchequer due to keeping Rs 5.10 lakh Crs corporate tax and income tax dues upto December, 2013uncovered and Rs 2.8 lakh crore tax concessions, as revenue-foregone, to the corporate – big business of theiraccumulated corporate and income tax.

The fiscal deficit is only to squeeze expenditure on peoples’ welfare in the situation of ongoing gloom,widening poverty, increasing food inflation. All these expenditures would have contributed to common people’sincome and employment generation.

The interim budget contains nothing on relief to the working people who generates GDP for the country andrevenue to the national exchequer keeping the national economy afloat. The written statement of the Prime Ministerin the 45th ILC that the demands of the trade unions were “unexceptionable” and the demands like social securityand national minimum wage “in advance stages of consideration”, found no reflection in the budget. Despiterepeated assurances there is no relief to the scheme workers either.

Even this interim budget gave further tax concessions to domestic and transnational corporates and big-business. on the plea of encouraging investment instead of cutting non-essential imports by raising import duty tocontain current account deficit and to give boost to domestic industries when over all GDP could not be estimatedbeyond 4.8%, despite sizable growth in agriculture, due to stagnation in non-agricultural sectors.

CITU statement denounced the interim budget and stated that complete reversal of the present economicpolicy was the only way for the country and the people to advance and called upon all sections of the working peopleto struggle for reversal of policies.

CITU Condemns Disinvestment of Hindusthan Zinc and BalcoCITU’s general secretary Tapan Sen, MP, in a statement on 1 February condemned reported Central

government’s decision on selling off remaining government’s 29.5% holding of Hindustan Zinc and 49% of BharatAluminum Co. Ltd in an attempt to meet its Rs.54000 crs disinvestment target of 2013-14, making PSUs as thesacrificial goats, and to show less fiscal deficit at 4.8% of GDP. Rs.22000 huge cash reserve of Hindisthan Zinccould have been utilized for its expansion and diversification.

The government sold its controlling shares in these companies in 2001 and 2003 during NDA regimedespite widespread protests and resistance by the trade unions. Now, the UPA government decided to sell off theremaining government’s shares despite the fact that CBI started enquiry against Vedanta group chairman AnilAgarwal and the officials of Hindusthan Zinc and of ministries of disinvestment and of mines in the irregularitiescommitted in the earlier disinvestment of Hindusthan Zinc when Sterlite Industries of Vedanta group had picked upmajority stakes at an undervalued price resulting in estimated hundreds of Crs of rupees loss to the exchequer.

CITU called upon the trade unions, workers and employees in general to unitedly protest and resist suchanti-people disinvestment move of the government.

CITU Opposes Selling Shares of Strategic PSUsCITU denounced UPA government’s decision to sell shares of major PSUs - Bharat Heavy Electricals

Limited (BHEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Engineers India Limited (EIL) - through block deal route.On this CITU president A.K. Padmanabhan issued statement on 3 February calling upon the trade unions, workersand employees of the country to unitedly protest and resist such anti-people move of the government against theinterest of the country

The Union finance ministry reportedly is determined to go ahead to sell the shares of these PSUs tocontain fiscal deficit despite opposition from various departments of the government itself including the controllingdepartment of heavy industries. BHEL is a Maharatna public sector undertaking and these strategic PSUs havehuge cash reserve which could have been utilized for its expansion and diversification.


88888ththththth March and Our Tasks March and Our Tasks March and Our Tasks March and Our Tasks March and Our Tasks- A.K. Padmanabhan

It is hundred and four years since the International Women’s Day is being observed all over the world.The day, which used to be the day of working women, has now become International Women’s day, focusingon the demands of women as a whole.

It is also to be noted that, as on other occasions nowadays, this day of struggle is being commerciallyexploited by vested interests. This, at the same time, is also utilised to divert the attention from the realities– the class exploitation and oppression being perpetrated against women.

The call for the observance of the day internationally had come from Clara Zetkin, a well knownSocialist leader from Germany. It was aimed at focusing the contributions of women and also as an occasionto press the demands of women. It was sought to be an opportunity for women workers and other women tostrengthen the struggle against the exploitative system in existence and to move towards a progressive,socialist society!

It is to be noted that initially March 19 was decided as the date for holding the first InternationalWomen’s Day. This day was chosen as it was on this day in 1848 that intense working class struggles brokeout in Prussia forcing the King to agree in principle, to universal suffrage Women’s Day on 19th March 2011received tremendous response from women in several countries in Europe. The day was observed demanding‘women’s right to work, to equal wages, to vote, to hold public office and to end other forms of discrimination.In 1913, the observation of International Women’s Day was shifted to March 8, the day when women garmentworkers in New York went on strike in 1857.

It is interesting that the Russian Revolution too started off with huge demonstrations on InternationalWomen’s Day on 1917 with thousands of working class women marching in the cold snow covered streets ofSt Petersburg demanding bread for their hungry children and the return of their men from the War.

If we look into the demands raised on the occasion of International Women’s Day in 1911 and thedemands being raised by women today, we can see that the situation has not changed much. Even morethan a hundred years later, in 2014, the demands are almost the same as in 1911.

CITU and Women Workers

CITU can be proud of the fact that it was the first among the central trade unions, to organise anational level Working Women’s Convention in April 1979 and to form an All India Co-ordination Committee ofWorking Women (AICCWW). This sub-committee of CITU was formed, fully understanding the necessity oftaking a new initiative to correct the imbalance in the trade union movement and also rectify many prejudicesthat existed.

Explaining the background of formation of AICCWW, founder President of CITU, Com. B.T. Ranadivesaid – ‘The CITU had to take the decision to call a special conference because it was found that thegrievances of working women were unattended; the government was indifferent; the employers were hostile;and even the trade unions were not very enthusiastic about their demands. In the so many strikes that theworking class fought there were very few instances when the special demands of the working women weregiven prominence.

It was also found that women, even in industries and occupations where they formed a sizeablesection were hardly represented in the leading bodies of the union.

This state of affairs was partly due to the disabilities, which women suffer from in a society like theIndian society. The inferior status assigned to women in both Hindu & Muslim communities is known to all.That discrimination doggedly pursues the working women and it is the elementary duty of the trade unions tofight against it. We cannot say that our workers and some of our trade union leaders are free from thisdiscriminatory outlook towards women.’ (Presidential Address – 4th All India Conference of CITU)


It is gratifying now to find that many of the Central Trade Unions in the country and also variousindependent national federations have formed working women’s committees. Various problems of workingwomen at their place of work and other issues have come to the fore during this period.

Another achievement during this period has been unionisation of large number of women workers invarious sectors – unorganised, organised and large chunk of exploited working women in various schemes ofthe central and state governments. Militant struggles have been conducted by these women workers whowere able to snatch some gains from the unwilling hands of the government and employers.

Miles to Go

CITU is also proud of the fact it could mobilise lakhs of women workers under its banner, conductstruggles and develop a good number of women workers as active cadres and leaders of the organisation.

But, CITU is also aware the limitations of the gains achieved and that is has miles and miles to go toachieve its aims and objectives outlined on various occasions from 1979.

The 14th All India Conference in April 2013 and the 10th All India Convention of AICCW in September -October 2013 critically analysed the achievements and also the tasks ahead. Several short comings thatneed to be overcome urgently have been noted.

On the whole, the involvement and the guiding role of CITU committees at various levels need furtherstrengthening. Issues of working women need to be on the top of the agendas for unions and federations inwhich there are women workers in considerable numbers.

It was with this aim a national workshop involving central and state leaderships of CITU and themembers of AICCWW was held a few days ahead of the International Women’s Day, where serious discussionswere held and decisions taken as called upon by the All India Conference of CITU.

CITU expects that these decisions will pave the way for strengthening the women workers initiatives,their improved involvement in trade union activities and moving further up on the ladder to leadership positionsin the unions and committees.

AICCWW will also be working with working women’s sub-committees of fraternal organisations instrengthening the class oriented functioning among women workers.

8th March 2014

CITU has called upon all its affiliates to organise meetings, demonstrations, dharnas, deputations etcon the occasion of International Women’s Day this year, focusing on some important demands. It has calledupon all its committees and affiliated unions to ensure that these observations involve both men and womenin large numbers. The issues being raised can not be considered as women’s issues alone and unless theseare not addressed, the entire society and working class in particular will continue to suffer.

Equality in All Aspects

One of the issues to be focused is equality in all aspects. This issue is not confined to equal wagesfor equal work, though it is a very important demand of women workers. Equal status to women is today beingdenied in every aspect of life. Discrimination begins from the birth of a girl child and goes on in education,employment, wages, promotion opportunities, social life and in the political sphere.

As far as wages are concerned a recent study on Gender Pay Gap in formal sector 2006-13 gives anidea about the Indian situation. “According to the report the gender gap in India in 2013 increased with age,higher education and qualifications. Women with education of below 10th class earned 9.37% less than menwhile women with professional qualification like CA/CS/ICWA or equivalent earn 44.25% less than men!Women with work experience of 16 to 30 years earned 24.96% less than men whereas women with workexperience of 31 years or more earned 78.23% less than men!”

If this is the situation in the formal sector, the situation in informal sector is worse. “According to thedata provided by the Labour Bureau in April 2013, the gap between the wages of men and women in someactivities has widened in the last decade. The data show that while men were paid Rs.212 a day for ploughing

8th March and our tasks


women were paid Rs.123; for sowing men were paid Rs.185 and women Rs.148; for harvesting the wages wereRs.179 for men and Rs.149 for women. The wages paid for well digging for men were Rs.254 whereas theywere a mere Rs.145 for women. In case of unskilled non agricultural work the wages were Rs.179 for men andRs.135 for women.” (Documents of 10th Convention of AICCWW)

It is very important that the trade unions take up these issues very seriously and ensure equality in allaspects of life.

Violence and Safety

There has been a horrendous increase in violence against women. Shocking incidents of violence arereported almost every hour from different parts of the country.

The report adopted in the 10th convention of AICCWW noted “one third of all women are reported to bevictims of sexual or physical violence. 38% female murder victims are killed by intimate partners. Every threeminutes, a crime is committed against a woman; every nine minutes, a woman suffers cruelty from herhusband or relative; every twenty-nine minutes, a woman is raped; and every seventy seven minutes, a dowrydeath takes place in the county. According to the report of the National Crime Records Bureau released in2013 there was 902% increase in cases of rape between 1971 and 2012. In 2010, the number of rapes,molestations, harassment and abductions of women in India, was more than 2.13 lakhs, i.e. 585 cases everyday. This is most certainly only a fraction of the real number, because women often do not report thesecrimes and prefer to suffer in silence. These shocking statistics mirror the status of women in our country.”

The neo liberal policies of globalisation, and commercialisation and commodification of women aggravatethe violence. Added to this general situation is the sexual harassment, which the women workers face notonly at the work spots but also during their travel etc.

Though the much delayed legislation on sexual harassment of women at work places has beenenacted, there are a several deficiencies in this legislation. These harassments, especially at work places,can be resisted only when the trade union leadership and workers as a whole are sensitised on the necessityof collective intervention. This is where much improvement has to take place.

Reservation in Legislatures

CITU is again focusing on the issue of women’s reservation in legislature. The bill which was adoptedwith much fanfare in Rajya Sabha has not been taken up in the Lok Sabha for ‘want of consensus’ which is notgoing to happen. This issue exposes the lack of commitment of the leading political parties in the country. Itis a fact that only the Left parties and a few of the regional parties are for enacting this bill and many others doonly lip service.

CITU calls up on all the unions to take up these important issues during the campaign and observanceof the International Women’s Day this year. CITU also calls upon all its committees and affiliated unions totake up continuous activities for the implementation of the organisational tasks identified by the 14th All India

Conference and the 10th All India Convention of Working Women.

Whose Money is It?

10 February, in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Employees Provident Fund, the Minister for Labour stated,“Out of the employers contribution of 12% of wages of members, 8.33% goes to Pension Fund while the Governmentcontributes 1.16% of wages of members limited to the wage ceiling of Rs.6500. There is no contribution from theemployees to the Pension Fund”! How fair is the statement of the Hon’ble Minister?

The EPS rules say that 8.33% from the employer’s contribution in PF, which is the worker’s money, goes toPension Scheme. Therefore, a myth was created as if Pension Scheme is paid for by employers and thegovernment, a dubious claim. There are protests against this claim and even in the recent CBT meeting, this wasraised

8th March and our tasks


————————————————————-—————————————————————————————-

Tamilnadu State Committee of CITU conductedstatewide campaign and collected fund expressingsolidarity with the heroic struggle of Maruti workers inHaryana.

On 30 January president of CITU Tamilnadustate committee and its national secretary A.Sundarrajan along with CITU general secretary TapanSen, its Haryana state leaders including presidentSurinder Singh Malik, general secretary Satbir Singh,CITU general council member Tyagi attended a functionorganized by the CITU Haryana state committee atGurgaon and handed over a cheque for Rs.5 lakhs asTamilnadu workers contribution to the fighting the MarutiWorkers Union in presence of large number of Marutiworkers and their family members, including women,

and the leaders of several local unions of Gurgaon. Sounderrajan and Tapan Sen addressed the gathering andassured solidarity and support to the workers in their struggle.

In Tamilnadu also hundreds of workers have been dismissed, suspended, transferred and harassedby the employers, mainly MNCs, in different parts of the state. The struggle of Hyundai workers as well as ofmany other MNC workers to establish their right to organize trade unions is continuing for years. In manyestablishments struggles have been successful establishing trade unions with registered, holding bilateraldiscussions and signing settlements.

With struggling Maruti workers, many solidarity actions were organized in Tamilnadu. 148 workerswho are in jail for almost 2 years are being denied bail and the sufferings of the women, children and othermembers of more than 2500 workers have caused great concern among workers. The reason given by thehighest judiciary in the state is that the workers going out on bail “will hamper foreign investment”. Highly paidspecial advocates are appearing in the court forthe Government to fight against the poor workers’bail petition.

Tamilnadu state committee of CITU,sharing the pain and grief of these workers, calledupon its unions to approach its members for asolidarity fund. Printed handbills in thousands weredistributed in each district; fund was collected,mainly in the organized sector; the workersresponded magnificently. Almost every unioncollected more than the quota within few days. Itwas this amount that was handed over to the Marutiworkers on 30 January.

A cheque for Rs.50,000 was also handedover to CITU Haryana state general secretary SatbirSingh by Malathi Chittibabu on 1 February duringits secretariat meeting as contribution of Tamilnadustate committee to Haryana state committee

Central Secretariat of CITU in its meeting on 31 January – 1 February congratulated the Tamilnadustate committee for their solidarity action and thanked the workers and employees who had extended help tothe Maruti Workers.

To Fighting Maruti Workers in HaryanaTo Fighting Maruti Workers in HaryanaTo Fighting Maruti Workers in HaryanaTo Fighting Maruti Workers in HaryanaTo Fighting Maruti Workers in Haryana

Tamilnadu Workers Contribute FundTamilnadu Workers Contribute FundTamilnadu Workers Contribute FundTamilnadu Workers Contribute FundTamilnadu Workers Contribute Fund

Tapan Sen addressing


EPF Pension

MinimMinimMinimMinimMinimum Pum Pum Pum Pum Pension incrension incrension incrension incrension increased to Rseased to Rseased to Rseased to Rseased to Rs..... 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 - A.K. Padmanabhan

Employees Provident Fund related Employees Pension Scheme, being implemented from 1995, isbeing amended to ensure a minimum Pension of Rs.1000/- and also to increase the eligibility wage ceiling toRs.15,000 per month from the existing Rs.6500.

The decision on this was taken in a urgently called meeting of the Central Board of Trustees on 5th

February.All the Trade Union representatives in the CBT welcomed the much delayed amendments, but raised

various points regarding the Pension Scheme and also on other proposals placed in the meeting. CITU’srepresentative in CBT, A.K. Padmanabhan attended the meeting.

It has been a long pending demand of Trade Unions to raise the minimum pension and also otheramendments to the Scheme. The issue of minimum pension of Rs.1000 was one of the 10 points on whichthe United Trade Union movement has been agitating and had conducted countrywide strikes. EPS Pensionersorganizations have also been conducting various struggles.

This long pending issue, was studied by an expert committee in 2010, and was discussed by CBT. Inthe year 2012, the issue was referred to the Cabinet and was pending there for the last two years.

From the beginning

The history of struggle against the EPS 1995, dates back to its origin. The working people in thecountry, especially those who did not have any kind of pension scheme, have been demanding pension as athird benefit in addition to gratuity and Provident Fund. Instead of finding a solution to that Govt. hit upon theidea of this Employees Pension Scheme, which was compulsorily implemented.

Studying the Scheme in depth CITU has pointed out many problems and demanded overhauling thescheme to ensure benefits to workers. But, the Government put forth many dubious arguments and evenSupreme Court accepted those arguments to ‘prove’ that the Scheme was beneficial to workers. CITU hadalso conducted a countrywide one day strike on this issue.

When years passed away, the points raised by the unions against the Scheme were found to begenuine. Paltry amounts of ‘pension’ roused anger among workers. Even now, 2.92 lakhs of pensioners aregetting less than Rs.250 per month. Actually the amount now being received varies from Rs. 2 upwards.

More than 27 lakhs of pensioners are getting less than Rs.1000 per month.In between, in the year 2008, certain important benefits like commutation of one third of pension for

100 months as lump sum and also clause on ‘return of capital’ were unilaterally withdrawn. These twobenefits were the main points through which the Supreme Court was convinced in the case against thecompulsory pension scheme.

Finance Ministry’s Demands

The present amendments on minimum pension and increase in ceiling was approved by the FinanceMinistry on 21st January. According to the note of Finance Ministry circulated in CBT, the above said proposalsfor amendments are interlinked and are part of comprehensive proposals.

The following are the major proposals, which were also discussed in the CBT:

• The proposal for ensuring minimum pension is only for a year (2014-15) and will be implemented from1st April 2014. To enable the increase a budgetary allocation of Rs.1217.03 crores will be made.Trade Union representative in CBT, protested against the ‘One year only’ proposal. Even the LabourDept. felt that the Scheme cannot be amended for one year only. They also pointed out that ‘oncemodifications are introduced it would not be possible to roll then back’.Finally, the Labour Minister, Shri Oscar Fernandez agreed that he will ensure that the increased pensionnot be curtailed after one year.


Many of the other proposals of Finance Ministry were such that the workers interests will be affected.CITU and other T.U. representatives emphatically stated that existing benefits should not be curtailed orreduced.

• The calculation of Pensionable salary is now the average of the last 12 months wages. Proposal was tochange this to the average of last 60 months wages. This will surely reduce the pensionable salary andalso pension amount.

• Govt. of India contributes 1.16% of the wages towards EPS. When the wage ceiling is being increased.Govt. wants to limit this contribution. Suggestions are that those who are above wage ceiling andvoluntarily contributes to EPF will not be given this 1.16% and the workers themselves to be asked topay the 1.16% from their contribution. Other suggestions include limit 1.16% upto Rs.15,000 even forthose who are members of EPS from a lower wage level.Trade Unions wanted all the existing practices in the case of ceiling of 6500 to continue, when ceiling israised to 15,000.

• Now, the members who have not rendered eligible service for pension at the time of their exit are entitledto a lumpsum withdrawal benefit. Finance Ministry wanted the deletion of the option for withdrawal.The worker representatives protested and even the Labour Ministry said that it “would not be justifiable,given the fact that the government at present can not guarantee continuity of service or alternative job/work for any member who lose his employment”.

• Another suggestion was to increase the age limit for Pension to 60 from 58. T.U. representatives madeit clear that this can not be accepted unless the superannuation of workers are increased to 60, which inmany industrial establishments is 58.

• Another proposal is to increase the reduction rate which is 4% per year to 6%. This rate was earlier 6%,which was reduced to 3% and then increased to 4% in 2008. Reduction rate is applicable when pensionersget “early pension”.

The following will lead to reduction of existing benefits:• Finance Ministry wanted to change the existing investment pattern of corpus in EPS. Trade Unions had

earlier rejected the proposals to investment funds in share market. Once again this was rejected by T.U.representatives and it was insisted that investment guidelines should be decided only by CBT.

• The proposal for fixation of pension after changes in ceiling is that from 1st April 2014, pro-rate pensionwill be calculated, instead of calculating total pension on the basis of wages at the time of retirement.There is also a proposal to add a proviso that “Central Govt. may make such rules as it may deemnecessary for increasing, decreasing, continuing or discontinuing such subsidy or part there of in respectof all or any category of family pensioners”.

CITU objected to this vehemently as unilateral decision by Govt. will only result in negating benefits.Labour Minister was justifying the proposal of Govt.

On CommutationCITU’s representative took up the issue of continued exploitation of those pensioners who are getting commutedpension even after the period of 100 months, for which they had commuted their pension. CITU has beendemanding restoration of the original pension after the amount is recovered.

Employers DemandEmployers representatives said that they are against increasing wage ceiling to 15,000 in one stretch. Theywanted it to be raised only to Rs.10,000 now and to 15,000 at a later stage. They had also raised that thesmall and medium enterprises will be affected due to increased expenses. All these points were sufficientlyrefuted by T.U. representatives.

Though the issue of Minimum pension is accepted by Govt., what they will finally do with otherproposals will be known only when the Govt. finalizes the notification on this.

Trade Unions will have to be prepared to see that no existing benefit is curtailed. Our struggle forimplementation of the long pending demands of increase in Pension to all Pensioners, linking pension to Costof Living Index, Restoration of Commutation of Pension and Return of Capital benefits have to be taken upeffectively.

Minimum Pension increased to Rs. 1000


INDUSTRY & SECTORSStreet Vendors

Street Vendors Bill passed by ParliamentProtracted struggle of street vendors unions and organizations succeeded with Rajya Sabha finally

passing the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2012 on 19February and it becoming an Act. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha long back.

Despite many shortcomings, the Act provides regularization of street vending with some rights tostreet vendors for implementation by the state governments and the municipal authorities like (a) compulsoryregistration of every person intending to carry out street vending; (b) issue of vending certificate and identitycards; (c) certain rights of street vendors; (d) certain duties of the street vendors; (e) constitution of TownVending Committee by each local authority with minimum 40%. representation of street vendors, with one-third women, and reasonable representation of the SCs, STs OBCs, minorities and persons with disabilities;(f) a plan for street vending once in every 5 years; (g) framing of a scheme relating to street vending by theappropriate government;(h) redressal of grievances and resolution of disputes of street vendors;(i) promotionalmeasures for making available credit, insurance and other welfare schemes of social security for the streetvendors; (j) street vendors not to be prevented by any person or police or any other authority from exercisingtheir right to vend when carrying on street vending in accordance with the terms and conditions of certificateof vending.

While taking part in the deliberation on the Bill in Rajya Sabha, CITU general secretary Tapan Sendemanded 50% representation of street vendors in the Town Vending Committees they being the mainstakeholders.

The Government is to notify the legislation and frame rules for implementation under the Act.

The unions organizing the street vendors/hawkers in the states have to take initiative for studying andunderstanding the various provisions of the Act and build pressure on respective governments for implementingthe same. The most crucial task and organizational initiative are to get the street vendors registered andobtaining vending certificate for them. Town Vending Committees, the representatives of the street vendors,having 40% share, will be elected by the registered street vendors only. Therefore enrollment of street vendorsin the union and getting them registered are the important task to be taken on priority basis.

- Tapan Sen

MediaSupreme Court Upheld Wage Boards

for Newspaper Journalists and EmployeesThe three members bench of Supreme Court, headed by the chief justice of India P. Sathasivam with

justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh on 7 February, 2014 dismissed 12 writ petitions filed by severalcorporate newspapers and news agency managements during 2011 – 2013 urging to declare the WorkingJournalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955as ultra vires to the Constitution of India, on alleged ground of violation of their fundamental rights, and forquashing the Central Government’s notification of 11 November, 2011 accepting the recommendations ofMajithia Wage Board on working journalists and newspaper and news agency employees.


Industry & Sectors

Dismissing the writ petitions, the Supreme Court held that the recommendations of the “Wage Boardsare valid in law, based on genuine and acceptable considerations and there is no valid ground for interferenceunder Article 32 of the Constitution of India.”

And, accordingly, directed that the wages, as revised/determined, shall be payable from 11November2011, the date of Central Government’s notification on Majithia Wage Board; and that all the arrears up toMarch, 2014 shall be paid four equal installments within a year from the date of judgement and shall continueto pay the revised wages from April, 2014 onwards.

Central Public SectorMeeting of Steering Committee of Central PSUsThe newly constituted Steering Committee of Central Public Sector Trade Unions meeting, held at

CITU centre in New Delhi on 1-2 February, decided to meet once again after Lok Sabha election to finalise aconcrete programme of action; to hold its meeting regularly once in 3 months; to give special attention tocontract workers in the CPSUs.

Though powerful movement of contract workers in various CPSUs has developed in many states,there is need to coordinate their industry-wise and state-wise movements to build nationwide united movementof contract workers in all the CPSUs.

Government Employees7th Pay Commission Constituted

On 4th February, Union finance ministry announced constitution of 7th Pay Commission for 50 lakhcentral government employees and another 30 lakh pensioners with retired Supreme Court judge AshokMathur as its chairman with the secretary of the petroleum ministry Vivek Rai, NIPFP director Rathin Roy andofficer of expense department Meena Agarwal as its members. The commission has two years term to submitits report. Last September Government announced its decision to constitute 7th pay commission and payrevision from 1 January, 2016. (From: Ganashakti).

2 Days Strike of Lakhs of Central Govt. EmployeesAbout 13 lakh central government employees were on 48 hours strike on 11 - 13 February. Postal,

income tax, civil accounts, ground water board, botanical survey offices remained completely closed and thework in the printing and stationery, audit and accounts, atomic energy, custom & central excise, defenceaccounts, bureau of mines, geological and other surveys, census and several other organisations and officesremained paralyzed across the country. It was total in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Orissa, AndhraPradesh, Tamilnadu, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, J&K, Himachal Pradesh,Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and more than 90% in other states

The Coordination Committee of the Central Government Employees and Workers gave call for thisstrike in pursuance of their 15 points charter of demands including finalization of terms of reference of the paycommission with the recognized JCM; interim relief; merger of DA with pay; inclusion of Gramin Dak Sewaksin pay commission and scrapping of NPS; for filling up vacant posts and against contractorization; for holdingregular national and departmental joint consultative committee (JCM) meetings and in protest against enactmentof PFRDA, with the support of the BJP, bringing existing employees and pensioners within its ambit.

On 12 February CITU secretariat greeted the central government employees and their organizationsfor successful 48 hours strike. (Inputs: M. Krishnan)


BanksMagnificent 2 Days United Strike

CITU greeted 10 lakh bank employees, officers and their United Forum of Bank Unions for their magnificentcountrywide 2 days successful strike on 10-11 February demanding negotiated settlement of overdue wagerevision; to stop mass scale outsourcing and deregulation of the banking sector against national interest; andin defence of public sector banks.

BEFI, West Bengal Conference13th conference of BEFI, West Bengal was held in Kolkataon 18-20 January. The open session was presided by itspresident Tapan Das and addressed by CITU generalsecretary Tapan Sen, BEFI general secretary PradipBiswas, state convener of UFBU NagendranathBhattacharya and others.

Tapan Sen explained the neo liberal economic reformsand its disastrous consequences ont he baning system;appreciated the united struggle of bank employes againstthese policies under the common banner of Forum ofBank Unions (UFBU); growing attack on democraticmovement in West Bengal to silence the inted voice ofthe working people against he ongoing reform policies.

Delegates session was participated by 880 delegatesreprot of the general secretary Joydeb Dasguptapointed out the proposed further baning reformsincluding in RBI, NABAD, RRB, Cooperative Banks;on growing mamebrship strenght of BEFI in WestBengal particularly among new recruits and mainlyamong unorganized workers recording increase by4000. After 67 delegates and observers, including fourwomen, participated in the discussion, the reportsand 8 resolutions on people's and working classissues were adoped unanimously.

The conference unanimously elected new officebearers, executive committee and general councilmembers with Sukhomoy Sarker as the president andJoydeb Dasgupta as the general secretary.

On 20 January, well know economist Prof. AMiyaBagchi delivered the Jyoti Basi Birth CentenaryMemorial LEcture on Attack of Corporate Capital onIndian Banking System. On this occasion a pictorialbook containg photos of Com. Jyoti Basu, thelegendary trade union and communist leader waspresented.

Industry & Sectors

Form IV1.Place of Publication: B T Ranadive Bhawan

13 – A Rouse Avenue New Delhi – 110 002

2.Periodicity of Publication: Monthly

3.Printers Name: Tapan Sen Whether citizen of India: Yes Address: B T Ranadive Bhawan

13A Rouse Avenue New Delhi – 110 002

4.Publishers Name: Tapan Sen Whether citizen of India: Yes

5.Editor Name: A K Padmanabhan Whether citizen of India: Yes

6.Name and address of Centre of Indian Trade newspaper and partners Unions,13A Rouse Or shareholders holding Avenue, New Delhi – More than one per cent 110 002 of the total capital

Sd/- Tapan Sen

Publisher


OdishaGovernment invokes ESMA against Striking Workers

On 20 January, the state government of Odisha invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA)and threatening police action against about 100 striking employees of Text Book Production & MarketingCorporation as if it was an essential service! These workers, who are being treated as casual workers despitethem working uninterrupted for 20-25 years, organized under Text Book Press Mazdoor Sangha (CITU), are onindefinite strike since 6 January, 2014 demanding regularization of their jobs and on some other demands.

CITU Odisha state committee condemned these actions of the government and demanded earlynegotiation with the striking employees and settlement of their just demands. (Inputs: Satyananda Behera)

HaryanaBending Hooda

The authoritarian Haryana chief minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda first inviting for discussion and theninsulting CITU led Asha workers delegation on 1 December at his residence in Delhi, (Working Class, January,2014), provoked wide-spread protest and chief minister’s effigy burning across Haryana. Ultimately, comingdown from high pedestal, Hooda, through the director of national health mission in Haryana, invited CITU’sAsha Workers Union leaders for discussion on 14 January; virtually retracted from his earlier insulting wordsaddressing the union general secretary Surekha like his daughter; accepted the memorandum on demandsassuring to favourably consider the same and immediately announced increase in honourarium of Asha workers.

However, it is a long wait for its implementation which is the trade mark of Hooda as CM.

MaharashtraBeedi Workers Mass Dharna / Courting ArrestUnder the banner of State Beedi Workers Coordination Committee, about 5000 beedi workers, coming

from different parts of Maharashtra, staged 2 days mass dharna and held demonstration and public meetingat Azad Maidan in Mumbai on 28-29 January. Majority of the workers were women and major mobilization wasfrom Sholapur. The programme was concluded with courting arrest by about a 1000 workers. They weredemanding minimum wage of Rs.200 / 1000 beedis; Rs.1.5 lakh for housing; Rs.3000 as pension; removal ofanomalies in counting, sorting, weighing of beedis / leaves; abolition of VAT on beedi / tobacco; and 35kg @Rs.2 / kg of food grains through PDS.

The programme was joined by Rashtriya Bal Kamgar Prakalp Shikshak Karmachari Sanghatanamembers. The mass meeting was addressed by CITU general secretary Tapan Sen, MP, its state presidentNarsayya Adam master, secretaries Vasant Pawar and M.H. Shaikh, C.P. Narayanan, MP, Mukund Ranadeand others.

A delegation led by Tapan Sen and Narsayya Adam Master with CITU state secretaries M.H. Shaikh,Vasant Pawar, Nasima Shaikh and Fatima Beig, and Kurmayya Mhetre and Sunanda Balla met the statelabour minister Hassan Mushrif, Assembly Speaker Dilip Valse Patil, the labour secretary, the labourcommissioner; submitted memorandum; held discussion on the demands; and warned on intensification ofmovement including Rasta Roko on or after 12 February if their demands were not met. The labour Ministerassured to revise minimum wages soon; take steps on 35kg food grains through PDS and to hold tripartitemeeting to resolve other demands. (Inputs: P.R. Krishnan)

STATES


States

JharkhandMovement by New Sections in Ranchi

On 17 January, under the banner of CITU Jharkhand state committee,more than a thousand men and women workers brought out a rally andstaged demonstration in front of the head office of Mecon Ltd, aGovernment of India undertaking and India’s leading engineering andconsultancy organization; and later before the DLC at Ranchi inpursuance of 7 points demands of 400 contract workers of Mecon whohave been working as security staff and in other technical and civilwork. The demands include regularization of jobs; social security;housing, medical facilities, children’s education, leave facilities as perlaw, maternity befits for women workers and negotiated servicesettlement with the unions.CITU formed two new unions as Mecon Contract Workers Union andMecon Contract Security Workers Union. Leaders addressed the gate meetings; led delegation and submittedmemoranda to Mecon management who assured to take positive steps within a month.

Dharna and Demonstration before Birsa Agricultural University

On 24 January, CITU state committee staged dharna and demonstrationin front of the Birsa Agricultural University head office and submittedmemorandum to the administrative director on demands of the 350casual and contract workers demanding regularization of jobs; increasein wages; social seciruty; PF, ESI and retirement benefits; leavefacilities as per government rules; maternity benefits to women workers;training of the displaced youths and unemployeds of the surrounding

villages on higher agricultural production technique, dairy] animalhusbandry, fish culture, poultry farming, horticulture etc; and give jobin the university or extend help for self employment. For establishingthe university hundreds of acres of land was acquired, but employment was not given to the displaced persons.The director assured to take appropriate action shortly. CITU formed Birsa Agricultural University ContractWorkers Union.

Dharna before Police StationOn 9 January, about 400 tribal villagers under CITU Jharkhand statecommittee staged dharna in front of Kanke police station in Ranchidistrict and submitted memoranda to the station-in-charge and circleinspector demanding withdrawal of false cases against 15 innocentvillagers, including Fulchand Munda, which was filed on 15 Novemberat the instance of land mafias and criminals who tried to forcibly occupyFulchand Munda’s land but were driven away by the villagers.

(Inputs: Shashikant Singh)

Demonstration in Mecon


States

ChandigarhDharna by Govt and Municipal Employees

About 2000 workers and employees, including largenumber of women, of Chandigarh Union Territory andMunicipal Corporation from about 18 departmental unionsincluding in electricity, water supply, transport, health,roads, horticulture, maintenance, etc; underthe banner of Coordination Committee of Government &MC Employees and Workers of U.T. Chandigarh;staged massive dharna in front of local stadium demandingregularization of jobs of 20-25 years long uninterruptedworking daily paid workers; EPF, ESI and pension for

them; job to next of kin removing 5% ceiling; filling up vacant posts; to stop privatization/corporatization;abolition of contract labour system and outsourcing; Rs.6950+basic pay to class IV permanent and daily paidwagers; allotment of flats under self-financing housing scheme 2008; uniform, LTA to all class III field workersetc.

The dharna was addressed by several leaders of Coordination Committee including its convenerRaghbir Chand, co-conveners Rajinder Katoch and Bishram; state general secretary Raghunath Singh, vicepresident Chander Shekha and other leaders of CITU; leaders of Employees Forum, TEWU, Punjab BoardCorporation Mahasangh, other federations, powerrmen’s union etc. Later the protesters marched to governor’shouse and submitted memorandum. (Inputs: Raghbir Chand)

GujaratGujarat Model (2): Lowest Criteria for BPL

After chief minister Narendra Modi’s faux pas on history, it is now the turn of his finance ministerNeetin Patel on economics. On 4 February Patel announced that there was no poor in Gujarat. It was only themigratory labour from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha who are in BPL category and whoseincreasing number in the state is the reason of increased number of BPL in Gujarat.

The facts reveal otherwise. Gujarat has the lowest BPL criteria statistically to remove the poor fromthe state. As per Gujarat government’s criteria, person earning at or above Rs.10.80 in rural and Rs.16.70 inurban areas are not poor and are outside BPL category. These are much below even the widely contestedplanning commission’s BPL criteria fixing Rs.28 in rural and Rs.32 in urban areas.

Gujarat government claims that the criteria were fixed by the central government in 2004. There wasno answer as to why Narendra Modi’s successive governments have not revised it during last 9 years!

Gujarat Model (1) has one of the lowest paid agricultural workers (Working Class, November, 2013),next only to BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, in the country. (From: Ganashakti)

Madhya PradeshConvention on Pension

CITU district committee held about one thousand strongconvention of pensioners and men and women workers,demanding social security, at Dr. Rajendra Prasadauditorium in Ujjain and brought procession covering mainthoroughfares on 26 January demanding 17 years longpending revision of pension at least to minimum Rs.3000and ESI coverage; social security coverage including


States

pension to all workers; like Left-led government of West Bengal to pay Rs.1500 as unemployment allowanceto each worker of closed industries; 35kg food grains @ Re 1/kg; housing etc.The convention was addressed by CITU state secretary Shailendra Singh, CPI(M) state secretariat memberKailash Libodiya and others.

Punjab

CITU district committee held a massive 2000 strong rallyof MNREGA, brick kiln, construction, Anganwari, Asha,Mid-Day-Meal workers at Raikot in Ludhiana district on17 January to protest against anti-people issues like -FDI in retail, spiraling increase of petro-products prices,black marketing of sand, deteriorating law and ordersituation; - and in pursuance of workers’ specific demandslike proper enforcement of labour laws; regularization ofjobs, social security and coverage under the MinimumWages Act for the scheme workers; implementation of15 November, 2012 notification on minimum wage revision with retrospective effect; to abolish illegal contractlabour system and outsourcing; filling up of all vacant posts; to withdraw false police cases registered againstCITU and other trade unions’ activists; proper implementation of MNREGA, MNREGA workers wages at parwith agriculture workers, payment of unemployment allowance on not providing jobs to them.

By a separate resolution the rally supported people’s agitation against the property tax and variousother corruption cases and high handedness of Akali-BJP government. The meeting demanded CBI inquiryagainst state cabinet minister and close relative of Badal family Bikramjit Singh Majithia in drug racket case.

The rally was addressed by CITU district president Jatinder Pal Singh; general secretary of LalJhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union Tarsem Jodhan; Anganwari Mulajam Union Punjab president SubhashRani and its general secretary Surjeet Kaur; Lal Jhanda FCI Workers and Paledar Union general secretaryAmarnath Koom Kalan; district president of AIAWU Parkash Singh Vermi; Punjab Kisan Sabha leader MukhtiarSingh; Raikot Tehsil secretary of CPI(M) Santokh Singh; and others.

After the rally a militant procession was brought out. (Inputs: Raghunath Singh)

Massive Dharna On Workers – People DemandsOrganized by Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union, supported by CITU ludhiana district committee

and joined by the unions of MNREGA, mid-day-meal, reta, Bharat Nirman and other workers union; 5000workers and people staged 120 hours continuous protest dharna, demonstration and rally in front of deputycommissioner’s office at Ludhiana from 20 to 24 January despite rains and cold wave demanding implementationof minimum wages; effective implementation of MNREGA programme and punishment for its Rs. 67 crorelapse; against increase in LPG cost; against sand mafia creating scarcity and high prices of constructionmaterials adversely affecting the construction industries, their trade, employment and lowering of wage ratesetc. A large section of brick kiln owners, truck operators and traders supported the programme bringing theworkers discontent into popular protest.

About a thousand of workers and people stayed round the clock in the protest area with support ofthree meals for which food materials were collected from villages and cooked by about 500, mainly mid-day-meal workers, volunteers,

CITU state vice president Chander Shekhar inaugurated the protest rally. District leaders of CPI,Peoples Party of Punjab and Aam Aadmi Party addressed the rally and extended support. On concluding day,the deputy commissioner assured the rally of stopping the menace of police - mining officials’ nexus and toarrange a meeting of CITU leaders with chief minister on these issues. The rally was concluded with theaddress of CITU state general secretary Raghunath Singh. (Inputs: Raghunath Singh)

Rally at Raikot


Delhi-NCRStrike of Hotel Workers at Noida

The workers of Narula’s Corner House insector 2 in Noida resorted to 3 days strike and stageddharna demanding payment of due annual incrementsfor successive 2 years, dearness allowance since July2013 and bonus/ex-gratia as before. Despite severaltripartite meetings at labour department and citymagistrate level and due to adamant attitude of themanagement the disputes could not be resolved. Thepublic meeting at dharna place was addressed byNoida CITU president Narendra Pandey, Union generalsecretary Gangeshwardutt Sharma, lata singh,secretary Madan Prasad, Ram Sagar, and others.

(Inputs: Gangeshwardutt)

Jammu & KashmirWorkers Massive Rally at Chenani

Organized by Chenani-Nashri Four Lane and Tunnel Construction Workers Union (CITU), thousandsof construction workers joined a massive demonstration and rally at Chenani on 30 January protesting againstgovernment’s demanding reinstating all victimized workers, who were dismissed from services; withdrawal offalse police cases filed against the workers; overtime payment; minimum wages, implementation of labourlaws etc.

Addressing the workers CITU state president and CPI(M) state secretary Md. Yousuf Tarigami saidthat contractor-management-administration-police nexus is denying workers statuary rights, resorting to unlawfullarge scale dismissals and suppressing the people’s right to protest. Such suppression of peaceful protestswould give rise to autocratic rule and emergence of violent forces, he warned. He urged for workers unity andfurther broader unity with other toiling sections. Others who addressed the rally included CITU state generalsecretary Om Prakash, senior trade union leader Sham Prasad Kesar, Unon’s president Arshid Malik and itsgeneral secretary Abdul Rashid. (Inputs: Jagdesh Chander)

AssamMassive Workers Rally at Guwahati

At the call of the CITU Assam state committee, a 20,000 strong workers rally was held in Guwahati on 21January addressed by CITU national leaders including its general secretary Tapan Sen and secretary K.Hemalata; its state general secretary Deben Bhattacharya, tea plantation workers all India general secretaryDinesh Nayak. CITU state leader Ashit Dutta presided.

A huge procession was brought out later and a memorandum, addressed to the chief minister, wassubmitted to the deputy commissioner on 14 points charter of demands including demand of Rs.10,000 asminimum wage, the demands of contract and scheme workers, to check price rise, industrialization anddevelopment of Assam and employment creation.

The rally created wide impact and enthusiasm among the workers. (Inputs: Deben Bhattacharya)

States


States

Meeting with the Chief Minister

On 27 January a meeting was held between thechief minister and CITU, represented by its all stateoffice bearers. Along with the chief minister, labourminister and secretaries of finance, education,labour and other officials were present. Someissues were resolved. It was decided to holdanother meeting soon after getting feedback fromconcerned departments.

Issues settled

Government agreed to immediately issuenotification increasing remuneration of mid-day-meal workers.Chief minister directed the principal secretaryto put up note and assured cabinet’sapproval of reinstatement order to 117Anganwadi employees, who contestedelections, were compelled to resign, butcould not win.The government notified the judicialmagistrate as Employees’ CompensationAuthority under the Minimum Wages andEmployees’ Compensation Act.

It was one of the largest workers mobilization inBengaluru in the CITU rally in front of Vidhan Saudha on 23January. On last count, 33465 workers poured from differentparts of the state at Bangalore railway station to join therally.

The rally at Sheshadri Road in the heart of the cityof Bengaluru packed with the workers for more than 4 hours.There was push and pull between the police and the agitatingworkers demanding the chief minister to come at the placeof rally. The labour minister Parameswara Nayak along laboursecretary, labour commissioner and other officials came tothe spot to receive the memorandum.

The rally was the culmination of CITU Karnatakastate committee’s series of programmes in pursuance of27 major demands including the demands for scrapping ofESMA; holding state labour conference annually; Rs.10000minimum wages; to regularize contract labour and abolishthe system; PDS to all; free house sites; demands of schemeworkers and to stop privatization of Anganwadi and mid daymeal schemes; demands of beedi workers, head loadworkers, municipal workers; transport workers auto drivers;plantation workers, gram panchayat workers; effectiveenforcement of labour laws etc.

Before the rally, 15 days state-wide campaign jathaswere brought; 12.8 lakh handbills were distributed and 30000posters were pasted. (Inputs: S.Prasanna Kumar)

KarnatakaHistoric Workers Rally in Bengaluru


WWWWWORKING ORKING ORKING ORKING ORKING WWWWWOMENOMENOMENOMENOMENNational Workshop on Working Women

A national workshop on CITU’s work among working women was held at BTR Bhawan in Delhi on 29–30 January and attended by 28 CITU state leaders from 12 states and central office bearers. 17 of them werewomen. The workshop was inaugurated by CITU president A.K. Padmanabhan.

CITU general secretary Tapan Sen while presenting background note explained that the perspectiveof CITU is to organise the working women as part of working class and its movement. CITU is the pioneer inorganising the working women. Women constitute 32% of CITU membership. In 4 states they constitute morethan 50%. Women constitute almost half of CITU’s mobilization in most of the states. They play active role inday to day activities of respective unions and of CITU.

Though there is advancement in taking up special problems of working women, in training womenactivists, in promoting them in leadership, there still exist weaknesses in several states. It is necessary tofight against all types of patriarchal attitudes within the organisation.

The participants had intense discussion on the report and placed their experiences. They noted thetendency of underestimating women’s abilities at various levels of the organisation.

The CITU secretariat reviewed the workshop and ratified the tasks proposed in the workshop. It hasdecided that CITU state committees must form its women sub-committees to monitor implementation of thetasks among working women; to allot the responsibility to one state office bearer; to subcommittees in allCITU affiliated unions with considerable women members and to constitute coordination committees of workingwomen at state and in districts, wherever possible. It was also decided to review the progress periodically atnational and states.

Mid Day Meal Workers Parliament MarchCalled by All India Coordination Committee of Mid-Day-Meal Workers (AICCMDMW) of CITU, about

2000 mid-day-meal (MDM) workers, coming from 9 states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka,Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP and Uttarakhand; Marched to Parliament on 13 Februarysimultaneously agitating in states during 10-17 February mainly demanding implementation of 45th ILCrecommendations on MDM workers; immediate increase in remuneration and payment in all 12 months; 180days paid maternity leave; to stop privatisation of the MDM schemes; and safety of MDM workers andcoverage under medical insurance and Janshree Beema Yojna.

Inaugurating the March at Jantar Mantar, CITU general secretary Tapan Sen, MP called upon theMDM workers to carry on struggles on their own demands and on the agenda of the nation and the people.Sitaram Yechury, MP and Basudev Acharya, MP, CPI(M) leaders in both Houses of the Parliament, addressedthe meeting and assured of combining struggles by Left parties on their issues inside the Parliament with theworkers struggle outside. Other speakers were CITU secretary K Hemalata, national convener of ASHA WorkersCoordination Committee and CITU treasurer Ranjana Nirula, AIDWA leader Maimoona Mollah, DYFI generalsecretary Avoy Mukherjee, SFI president V Sivadasan, STFI vice president Wazir Singh and MDM state unionleaders.

CITU secretary and convener AICCMDMW A R Sindhu concluded the meeting with her addresssaying that although the government announced increase in honorarium, if the arrears were not paid, AICCMDMWwould launch struggles. She called upon the midday meal workers to carry on their struggle in pursuance oftheir just demands including regularisation of jobs, minimum wages, pension and to save the scheme, whichprovides 15% of the family calorie intake of the poor of the country.


Working Women

BiharMilitant Demonstration of Mid-Day-Meal Workers

Thousands of Mid-Day Meal (MDM) workers, coming from three adjoining districts of Saharsa, Supauland Madhepura, staged a militant demonstration and gate meeting in front of the divisional commissioner’soffice on 24 January under the banner of Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union demanding regularization of their jobs,pay-scales, payment through bank, appointment letters to the cooks, etc. The daily wage of a MDM worker isRs.33 in Bihar.

CITU state secretary Ganesh Singh, divisioner patron Vinod Kumar. Dr.Chandrabhash, Ganesh Manav,Vyas Prasad Yadav, Manju Devi and others addressed the meeting. (Inputs: Bidyut Pal)

Led by Maharashtra Rajya Anganwadi Karmachari Kriti Samiti, the joint platform of all 6 major Anganwadiunions; about 2 lakhs Anganwadi employees began their state-wide indefinite strike on 8 January with a 15000strong rally at Azad Maidan in Mumbai mainly demanding of the state government retirement benefits, increasein remuneration, regularisation of their jobs and no privatisation; and also protesting against governmentrepeatedly breaking promises. More than 1000 agitating women workers broke police barricades and resortedto rasta roko braving police lathi charge. Due to strike, all of 90,000 Anganwadi centres and 20,000 miniAnganwadi centres remained closed.

The chief minister held discussion with the unions and gave assurances. But the joint committeedecided to continue the strike and agitation till the government took concrete measures on assurances.

Striking employees staged demonstrations and dharnas, and resorted to rasta roko, jail bharo etc.About 25,000 Anganwadi employees participated in these programmes every day. The employees went onjoint relay fast on 20 January in Mumbai and in district headquarters. Trade Union Joint Action Committee ofMaharashtra held rally at Azad Maidan on 22 January in support.

The chief minister again held meeting with the unions on 23 January reiterating his earlier assurances.Kriti Samiti suspended demonstrations, but continued with strike. Demonstrations in districts were resumedas cabinet failed to take up the agenda in its 29 January meeting.

On 4 February more than More 25,000 employees from all over the state joined a massive joint rallyand refused to disperse till the government fulfilled its assurances. The chief minister held meeting with theunions on 4 February. However, dharna in Azad Maidan continued with thousands of anganwadi employeesstaying overnight. More joined next day. Ultimately, the chief minister announced the cabinet’s decision to payRs.1lakh / Rs.75,000 to Anganwadi workers / helpers as one time retirement benefits. With this victory theunions ended the strike. The cabinet in its meeting of 23 February finally decided to raise honorarium byRs.950 / Rs.500 totalling Rs.5000 / Rs.2500 to workers / helpers and of mini anganwadi workers by Rs.450totalling Rs.2400.

Anganwadi Karmachari Sanghatana (CITU) and All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers(AIFAWH) played important role in ensuring the success of the strike and agitation.

Maharashtra Anganwadi Employees

Historic Indefinite Strike


PunjabSave ICDS Jatha March: An Experience

Anganwari Mulajam Union Punjab brought out ‘Save ICDS’ jatha march in three decorated vehicles on7 November from Jallianwalla Bagh (Working Class, December,2013) and concluding on 3 December in thevillage of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh covering 5000 kms, 20 out of total 22 districts, 106 out of total 153blocks and holding 43 rallies and public meetings, participated by estimated 25,000 workers of Anganwadi,other trade unions, mass organizations and people in general.

Never before such a nearly month long jatha march was organized by any organization of workingwomen in Punjab. At every place jatha was given warm reception at the entry point of the city / town withdrums beats and garlanding; at several places, MNREGA, Asha, mid-day meal, industrial workers andgovernment employees took part in the rallies and joined demonstrations; beneficiaries of ICDS attendedpublic meetings apart from the workers and leaders of fraternal trade unions and other mass organizations; atsome places financial help was extended; 50,000 pamphlets were distributed; and electronic and print mediagave extensive coverage highlighting the demands. The leaders of the jatha march also extensively interactedwith the common workers getting ground level feed backs and experience.

During the jatha march, 600 Anganwadi workers and helpers of 7 new projects in Muktsar, Ferozepur,Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur districts came in contact who also took part in the rallies and joined the union. 350young Anganwadi workers and helpers were identified for development as cadres.

The jatha march not only galvanized the Anganwari workers-helpers but also enthused CITU unionsand fraternal mass organizations.

On 5 December, a day after the jatha march, despite administration’s threat of imposing Sec.144CrPC and several police barricades, about 15,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers reached Chandigarh joiningthe biggest ever women’s state level Lalkar Rally. It was the mass pressure of the rally that the principalsecretary of the chief minister and director of ICDS had to come at the rally place to receive the demands andassuring to consider the demands.

About 5,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers participated in the joint rally of trade unions in Delhi on12 December. - Raghunath Singh

Andhra PradeshMilitant Agitation of Anganwadi Employees

On 23 February about 30,000 Anganwadi employees of united Andhra Pradesh seized the stateassembly in Hyderabad on 23 February despite police attempting to block their entry by road and train.

Despite ongoing sectarian political movement, 1.6 lakh Anganwadi employees of united Andhra Pradeshresorted to strike on and from 17 February and district level protests since 11 February demanding increasein the remuneration from state government, pension, gratuity, opposing privatisation etc.

At the call of the Andhra Pradesh Anganwadi Workers and Helpers’ Union (CITU) its district president/ general secretary from each project committee went on indefinite hunger strike and 50-200 anganwadiemployees also from each project went on 24 hours relay fast in front of district collector’s office.

At mandal level all over the state militant demonstrations, road blocks, human chains etc are beingorganized. Meetings of the beneficiaries are also being held seeking support and explaining the demands.

CITU state general secretary R Sudha Bhaskar and its district general secretaries / presidents alsowent on indefinite fast in support of agitating Anganwadi employees. On the third day of indefinite hungerstrike, police forcibly shifted the fasting union and CITU leaders to the hospitals and removed the tents.Against police action anganwadi employees are staging rasta roko and mandal level dharnas and demonstrations.In many districts the CDPOs and other officers have started threatening disciplinary action including terminationof services of anganwadi employees.CITU unions of the workers in construction, municipalities and others areorganising solidarity demonstrations in districts and mandals in support of the struggling anganwadi employees.

Working Women


INTERNATIONAL

- A.K. Padmanabhan

Presidential Council of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has called forworldwide struggle against unemployment and for the strengthening of solidarityactions in the struggle against capitalist and imperialist exploitations.

The meeting of the Council, the highest policy making body of the only class oriented InternationalTrade Union Organisation, was held in Rome on 14th and 15th February, 2014. The meeting hosted by USB,Italy was presided by WFTU’s President Muhammad Shaaban Azouz, who is also President of GFTU, Syria.

32 members of the Presidential Council out of the 43 members participated. There were some specialinvitees. From India CITU was represented by A.K.Padmanabhan and Swadesh Dev Roye, Vice Presidentand Deputy General Secretary respectively. Others included H. Mahadevan, AITUC(Deputy General Secretary)C.H. Venkatachalam, AIBEA (Convenor, Finance Commission) and Debanjan Chakravorty (General Secretary,TUI Construction), S.P. Tiwari, TUCC .

Among other participants included those from China, Vietnam, Cuba, DPRK (North Korea), Venezuela,Peru, Columbia, Brazil, Chile, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, U.K, South Africa, Nigeria, Gabon, Palestine,Iran, Lebanon, Sudan, Malaysia Bangladesh and Sudan.USB Italy, the host Organisation had made elaborate arrangements for the meeting and its General SecretaryPierpalo Leonardi welcomed the participants.

Opening Remarks

In his opening remarks, President Muhammad Shaaban Azouz, said that the meeting with the mainagenda of the Reviewing the activities in 2013 and approving the plan of Action 2014-15 is very important inview of the global situation. We have to strengthen the unity of the workers of the world to fight the economicand social onslaughts of the world capitalism and imperialism. He referred to the stepping up of brutalityagainst legitimate aspiration of the World Working Class and peoples of the world who are struggling forfreedom, independence and sovereignty.

Explaining the present day devastating developments of the capitalist world, he referred to themultifarious oppression and exploitation, through military, financial and industrial machination, and the waythey are sowing the seeds of division among the people in the same country.

Referring to his own country Syria, the President said that the achievements of his country since thedawn of liberation from French colonialism by Seventy years are threatened by the tools and agents of brutalglobal exploitative system.

He explained in detail the brutalities against the people of Syria by those of the USA, Britain, Franceand some regional powers led by Turkey. He also said that “the smell of Petroleum has blinded the foresightand vision” of these forces, “ who are lavishing the capabilities of Syrian people, especially those of Oil, whichis sold to brokers and dealers of those countries at unreasonable prices.”

He was confident that the people of Syria will be victorious in this battle which he said was “an integralpart of the battle of mankind against exploitation and colonialism.”

WFTU Calls for Struggle• Against Unemployment • For Strengthening Solidarity


International

General Secretary’s Report

Presenting the report, which included Review of the activities in 2013 and Action Plan for 2014-15,General Secretary, George Mavrikos, captured the present day situation at Global level.

Quoting from the documents of the 16th Congress of WFTU in 2011, he said that the happenings haveconfirmed the analysis of WFTU. There is universal attack on jobs, wages and salaries. He said that Capitalismis condemning millions of workers to unemployment, poverty in persistent, permanent, relative and absolutemisery.

He also referred to the imperialist interventions against people of Syria, in Mali, Libya, Central Africaand also recently in Ukraine.

Reviewing the activities in the year 2013, he said that the decisions taken in the Presidential Councilin Peru, was consistently implemented. Series of initiatives have been taken on campaigns, solidarity actions,official WFTU missions etc.

On the Organisation front, there were improvements, including formation of new Sectoral InternationalOrganisation (TUI) of Pensioners and Retirees.

There were International Day of Action Programme in 43 countries, 31 Thematic InternationalConferences, and solidarity campaigns for Cuba, Palestine, Syria, Mali, Venezuela, Columbia and otherswere organized. There were active participation of WFTU Head Quarters in International Organisations andalso in Congresses and conferences in over 90 countries.

General Secretary said that “the rich action of the WFTU on central, regional and sectoral levels hasaimed to unite the forces of the working class in class struggles, to unite the workers, no matter theirideology, religion, language, gender, unite the people in the struggle against capitalist exploitation and againstimperialism”

While explaining the situation in various regions of the world, where working class is waging persistentstruggles, he exhorted the Presidential Council members and affiliated unions to work for strengthening ofWFTU and march ahead with unity and class orientation.

Referring to the activities of Regional Offices, Sub Regional Offices and the activities of various TradeUnions International (TUIs), coordinating sectoral activities, he underlined the difficulties as well as weaknessesin the functioning.

Action Plan

The Action Plan for 2014-15, included increased activities on important issues. This year InternationalDay of Action – the foundation Day of WFTU – on 3rd October will be observed with its central issue asUnemployment. Coming 3rd October will also mark the beginning of the 70th Anniversary of the foundation ofWFTU.The programmes included a World Congress of Working Women, to be preceded by Asian and also EuropeanConventions. TUI Conferences of Transport and Public Services will be held in 2014 in Chile and Nepalrespectively. A detailed Programme for strengthening organizational activities have been finalized.

WFTU will be more active in activities connected with UN, UNESCO and ILO. WFTU representativeswill attend UN 58th session of the Commission on the status of women. Dr. K. Hemalata, Secretary CITU willbe in the WFTU delegation.WFTU Website is being renewed and a Web Radio will be operationalised, as an effective tool for campaignand dissemination of information.

Discussion of the Report

38 Comrades participated in the discussion, sharing the situation in different countries and also onsectoral issues.

Intervening in the discussion, A.K. Padmanabhan, President, CITU, expressed solidarity with thestruggles in different parts of the world. He gave details of united struggles in India, for which Central TUs and


International

National Federations affiliated with WFTU and ITUC had come together with other non affiliatedorganizations.

He also referred to the country wide strike of Bank Employees on 10th and 11th February and theCentral Govt. Employees strike on 12th and 13th February in which nearly 2 million employees had participated.

He thanked WFTU head quarters for participating in the National Conference of CITU and also for theopportunities given to CITU leaders for representing WFTU in various forums.He assured all support and co-operation for the programmes being finalized for 2014-15 and said all efforts willbe made to implement these, with the co-operation of all affiliated and friendly organizations, in India.

Summing up

With all the participants generally in agreement with the proposals, General Secretary in his summingup of the discussions, stressed again the need for furthering activities of WFTU.He also underlined the necessity of propaganda and campaign exposing ILO’s continuous refusal to allowproportional representation to WFTU which is legitimately due to it. The struggle for such status will have tobe carried out in ILO forums and outside.

He was happy to announce that the WFTU anthem with its lyrics in different languages is ready. TheOrchestration for the anthem by a famous Nepali Composer was presented as a ‘draft’. It is proposed to havesingers and instruments from different regions in the finalization of the Anthem which will be in differentlanguages, representing the global character of WFTU.

The meeting unanimously approved the report of General Secretary. The next meeting of PresidentialCouncil will be held in 2015, in Gabon, Africa. The meeting also adopted resolutions on Solidarity with thesame struggles, including that of the Bank Employees lead by NUBE, Malausia.

Meeting concluded with the remarks of the President, profusely thanking the leadership and volunteersof USB, Italy and declaring to confine our fight for steady, stable and decent work for all and support and socialbenefits for the unemployed and also reminding that unemployment and capitalism go hand in hand. (photo –16)

TUI for Pensioners and Retirees FormedThe foundation congress of a new TUI for Pensioners & Retirees of WFTU was held at Barcelona,

Spain on 5-6 February attended by 60 delegates from 40 organizations in 20 countries including 3 delegatesfrom India. V.A.N. Namboodiri, deputed by CITU, represented 2 organizations in India - AIBDPA and NCCPA.

The chairman of the organizing committee Quim Boix presiding over both inaugural and delegates’sessions explained the aims of the congress to form the TUI pointing out the powerful agitations of pensionersand retirees in various countries against the cut in pension etc. Inaugural session was also addressed byleaders of some organizations and some delegates. V.A.N. Namboodiri addressed on behalf of the pensionersin India.

A draft document was discussed in the delegates’ session participated by delegates from Cyprus,Brazil, Portugal, Congo, France, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Canary Islands, Australia, Nepal, GreatBritain, Ecuador, Bass Country, Sahara, Bahrain, India and others. While the delegates from all the countriesspoke about the attacks on pension and curtailment of trade union activities following economic crisis andausterity drive and the pensioners being on the defensive are organizing agitations and struggles, the speakersfrom Cuba spoke about the increasing benefits to the workers and the pensioners under the socialist government.

From India, V.A.N. Namboodiri and D. Gopalakrishnan spoke. Namboodiri mentioned about the anti-worker attitude of the present government and the valiant struggles organized under the leadership of thecentral trade unions including the Parliament March and the 48 hours strike on 20-21 February 2013.

After discussion, the draft proposals, bye-law etc. were adopted unanimously declaring the formationof the TUI (P&R). The congress elected office bearers with Dimos Koumpouris (Greece) as president andQuim Boix (Spain) as secretary. The next congress will be held at Bahrain after 5 years.

- V.A.N. Namboodiri


CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS (GENERAL) FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS(BASE 2001=100)

State Centre Nov. Dec. State Centre Nov. Dec. 2013 2013 2013 2013

AP GODAVARIKHANIGUNTURHYDERABADVIJAYWADAVISHAKHAPATHNAMWARRANGAL

ASM DOOM DOOMA TINSUKIAGUWAHATISILCHARMARIANI JORHATRANGAPARA TEZPUR

BIH MUNGER JAMALPURCHD CHANDIGARHCHS BHILAIDLI DELHIGOA GOAGUJ AHMEDABAD

BHAVNAGARRAJKOTSURATVADODARA

HRY FARIDABADYAMUNANAGAR

HP HIMACHAL PRADESHJ&K SRINAGARJRK BOKARO

GIRIDIHJAMSHEDPURJHARIAKODARMARANCHI HATIA

KNT BELGAUMBENGLURUHUBLI DHARWARMERCARAMYSORE

KRL ERNAKULAMMUNDAKKAYAMQUILON

M P BHOPALCHHINDWARAINDOREJABALPUR

MHR MUMBAINAGPURNASIKPUNESHOLAPUR

ORI ANGUL TALCHERROURKELA

PUD PUDUCHERRYPUN AMRITSAR

JALANDHARLUDHIANA

RJN AJMERBHILWARAJAIPUR

TN CHENNAICOIMBATORECOONOORMADURAISALEMTIRUCHIRAPALLY

TRP TRIPURAUP AGRA

GHAZIABADKANPURLUCKNOWVARANASI

WB ASANSOLDARJEELINGDURGAPURHALDIAHOWRAHJALPAIGURIKOLKATARANIGANJSILIGURI

ALL INDIA INDEX

248243213239246253204208234206197247238269214245234218231220225220234213213245296256271280282246243256248252232255247247244228235

249248215245252254209210239207199257241276221247244228237225229225236218212249308265278287287249247257251253232257247251254231241

244264244246256249254247241229225238245233225226227225221238202247243245229239264227274236221232233224230

249274248246252257262245247234233240252239227225228228225239210252246249235249271229281239225238238231237

243 239


5-day dharna at Ludhiana (report page - 17)

Tapan Sen addressing Mid Day Meal Workers in Delhi(report page - 20)

CITU President A.K. Padmanabhan addressing the WFTUPresidential Council Meeting in Rome (report page 23)

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