organized sector will not just
discredit the trade union movement
but harm the larger interests of
Indias’ workers and its economy’
(Editorial comment of B.S. on
Sept.1, 2015). The HANS INDIA on
Sept.2 in its editorial, commented
that ‘yet another all India strike is
to adversely hit the nations
economy. Thus the corporate
media too played its role in
dissuading the workers against the
strike and spreading disinformation among public.
The NDA government at the
last minute enacted the drama of
conducting multiple rounds of
discussions with the trade unions
by putting forth empty assurances
and vague guarantees without any
concrete measures.
The industry body CII termed
the strike as “disruptive and
uncalled for” and ‘sagely’ appealed
the trade unions to resolve all
pending issues through a dialogue
and discussion”. It warned that
resorting to such means like strike/
bandh “will be detrimental for the
growth of country…”.
The ASSOCHAM another
industrial body lamented that the
financial impact due to strike might
lead to an estimated loss of over
25,000 crore to the economy.
Though the governmental
authorities and industrial bodies
claimed that the impact of strike is
nominal, they had to admit that the
protest strike had a considerable
financial affect on the economy.
Whatever might be the impact
caused by this one day token
protest strike on the big capital,
ruling classes and the rulers of the
governments, the credit for
causing such an impact belongs
only to the valiant millions of
workers of this country that have
participated in the strike with
boldness, unselfishness and
undeterred determination.
The traditional trade unions
leadership that has given this strike
16
call is jubilant of the success of its
call
by
depicting
it
as
“unprecedented”, “out-standing”
and “historic” and with this success
of this strike, the leaders of INTUC,
AITUC, HMS, CITU, AITUC, TUCC,
SEWA, AICCTU, UTC and LPF in a
statement issued on Sept.2 stated
that they are “expecting the
government to take a lesson and
take steps to ameliorate the
grievances of the working masses.
It must re-start discussions with
central trade unions for concrete
solution to the demands…”. Such
has been the reveling mood of the
leadership of the traditional trade
unions with quixotic sentiments.
However though we must hail
the determination of the millions of
workers that have participated
valiantly in this one day token
strike, one cannot be passive to
review and understand the
limitations and drawbacks of this
“successful and historic” strike nor
underestimate the stubborn
attitude and anti-working class
policies of the big capital, rulingclasses and rulers, that have been
consistently and adamantly
pursuing these policies of denying
and attacking the rights of the
workers duly undermining the
might(power) of the workers’
movement of this country. It is
unwarranted and unwise to
endeavor to accommodate the
workers movement in to the
existing circumstances and system
that are totally detrimental to the
interests of the working masses;
and to the objectives of the workingclass.
An impassionate and a
realistic approach towards the
question and cause of workers of
this country, with a sincere and
honest class out-look and
understandings are the present
day requirements and necessity to
develop the workers movement of
our country, in to a really mighty
movement that can successfully
and effectively rebuff and resist the
onslaughts and attacks of the bigcapital on the rights and
entitlements of the workers and its
ruthless exploitation of the labour
power and plunder of our nation.
In the light of the above
understanding, the Sept.2 token
protest strike has to be examined
to arrive at a correct assessment
with regards to the real state of the
workers’ movement in our country.
Mainly the traditional trade unions
viz the central trade unions have
been representing the workers
movement of our country, since
they are recognized by the
government, though there are
thousands of unions, federations,
associations of workers and
employees, beyond the pale of
those central unions in this country.
Some of these independent
federations/unions have been
conducting militant struggles
against the big-capital and its
attacks on the workers and their
rights; such as the struggles
conducted by Maruti-Suzki workers
and employees of the Neyeli Lignite
Corporation. But the traditional
trade
unions
have
been
disregarding these militant
struggles of the workers, but are
pursuing the line of formalistic and
ritualistic approach towards the
struggles to be conducted against
the incessant onslaughts of bigcapital on the workers and their
rights, in connivance with the
governments in power.
In fact from the introduction of
the neo-liberal economic policies of
capitalism in our country in 1991,
the big-capital has been playing
havoc with the lives of the workers,
with the willfull cooperation of the
rulers,
ruling-classes
and
governments in power. The neoliberal economic reforms have
been dictating labour reforms to be
implemented, to the advantage of
big-capital and to the detriment of
the interests of the workers and
Class Struggle