General Strike on 28-02-2012

The Central Trade Unions-BMS, INTUC,AITUC,HMS,  CITU, AI UTUC, AICCTU,UTUC,TUCC,LPF and SEWA-have called upon the workers and employees of all sectors to go on one day  general strike on 28-02-2012, throughout the country.  The Central Trade Unions having affinity to Congress, BJP and Left Parties and regional parties like DMK have all come together and gave this call unitedly. The trade unions/federations in various sectors which are not affiliated to any of these central trade unions(AIBEA and BEFI in Banking, Confederation of Central Government employees, BSNLEU and NFTE in BSNL, All India State Government Employees Federation etc have also given the call. In BSNL, since the BTEU and FNTO are affiliated to BMS and INTUC, they also will join the strike.

This strike is a continuation of the struggles being organized by the working class against the anti-worker policies of the Government. Earlier, on 8^th November 2011 a massive satyagraha/jail bharo/dharna programmes were organized throughout the country.  Despite several rounds of united protests by the entire trade union movement of the country, the Goveernment remained unresponsive to the major concerns of the working people. Rather, anti-worker moves are being taken up to further aggravate the prices through frequent hike in power tariff, petroleum prices etc. Existing labour rights including the right to form trade union, are sought to be curtailed. Social security and pension are under attack, through various legislative measures and administrative moves. Mass scale contractorisation of the regular work is taking place in all the work places including PSUs and Government Departments. Contract workers are not being paid statutory minimum wages in most of the cases. Disinvestment of shares of PSUs is being actively pursued by the Government to facilitate phased privatization of the PSUs. 

There is rampant corruption all round and huge black money generation in the economy. The Trade Unions have been demanding concrete legislative and administrative measures and change in the policies to prevent corruption and bring back the black money stashed abroad.

Since there is no response from the Government for settling the demands, the trade unions have decided for one day nation wide general strike on 28-02-2012 on the following demands:

1. Concrete measures to contain price rise
2. Concrete measures for linking employment protection with the concession/incentive package offered to entrepreneurs
3. Strict enforcement of all labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws
4. Universal social security cover for all unorganized sector workers without any restriction and creation of a national social security fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendations of the NCEUS(National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised sector) and Parliamentary standing committee on labour
5. Stoppage of disinvestment in Ceentral and State profit making PSUs
6. No contractorization of work of permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry/establishment
7. Amendment of the Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs 10,000.
8. Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus,provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity
9. Assured pension for all
10. Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos 87 and 98(on right to association and right to collective bargaining)

It is necessary to make this strike a great success  to pressurize the Government for settling the demands.