Swadesh Dev Roye
THE historic 2nd September General Strike was participated by crores of workers, and established many milestones. Support extended by other class and mass organisations was worth noting. For the first time even unfriendly quarters had no escape but to admit the unprecedented impact of the strike all over the country – across all the regions and economic sectors. However, above all, the success of the strike in the strategic sectors like road transport, coal mines, petroleum, power, telecommunication, etc. is rather a mind blowing significant new development.
COMPREHENSIVE
UNDERSTANDING ESSENTIAL
This was the first joint nationwide General Strike against the all-pervasive, atrociously anti-worker, anti-people policy onslaught on the toiling people by the Modi government. However, this strike must not be looked upon in isolation from the past strike actions carried out by the working class against neo-liberal regimes in the country since 1991. In fact, this was the 16th general strike in a series of strike actions conducted by the Indian working class against neo-liberal policies of the successive Fund-Bank subservient regimes in the country since 1991.
The broadest trade union unity in the country has not been an isolated development either. Its origin must be traced to the first united forum formed to fight the neo-liberal policies. From 1991 and up to 2009 it was the Sponsoring Committee of Indian Trade Unions, which was constituted in a meeting of the concerned Central Trade Unions and National Federations of Industrial and Service Sector workers on 13th August 1991 in New Delhi. The Sponsoring Committee conducted big struggles on sustained basis. Between November 1991 and August 2008, the working class carried out massive campaign, agitation including March to Parliament by lakhs of people on several occasions as well as direct action including 12 nationwide general strikes. It is very important to note that the cudgel of the united struggles against neo-liberalism has been carried by the Left trade unions.
FREQUENT ‘BUBBLES BURST’
SYNDROME TO SYSTEMIC CRISIS
Ever since the adoption of neo-liberal policies in the country by the Congress government at the Centre under the PM-FM duo of Narsimha Rao and Manmohan Singh respectively, India has witnessed changes in ruling regimes and ever intensified attack of neo-liberal policies. Also neo-liberalism itself has come across different phases of frequent ‘bubbles and bursts’ based crisis and ultimately capitalism has entered into the phase of systemic crisis.
It is necessary to understand that the initial fight against finance capital driven imperialist globalisation and market driven economic policies was comparatively more difficult because the euphoric influence of the so-called success of ‘market economy’ was quite widespread amongst the so-called intelligentsia and of course, the middle class, particularly in the urban society. Some people within our own movement were affected by the confusion of TINA (there is no alternative) factor. Now we can recall how we had to fight at every level for adopting strike decisions and carrying out the strike action due to opposition from various quarters. But the working class with its inbuilt leadership farsightedness and intrinsic character of class struggle continued the battle and built the foundation for today’s success. So today’s historic victory must be comprehended from the root. The root must be constantly strengthened to achieve sustainability and further momentum in joint struggles.
THE LONG
MARCH
For an objective understanding regarding the past phases of unity and struggles leading to the present most encouraging height of joint struggle of the trade union movement in the country, it is necessary to delve into the developments since the inception year of 1991. The first Strike Action in India under the banner of the Sponsoring Committee of Indian Trade Unions against the finance capital driven neo-liberal policies was organised on 29th November 1991 and the subsequent strike actions were in the years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. Of course in between the strike actions, multi-dimensional militant mobilisations including ‘Jail Bharo’, ‘Rastha Rukho’ ‘Police Barricade Breaking’, etc. were successfully organised. These nearly two decades of struggles against neo-liberalism was exclusively led by the Sponsoring Committee. The path was very difficult. In nutshell, it can be said that this was the period during which the movement against globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation was practically swimming against the tide. Distinction of this phase and the contribution of the Sponsoring Committee must not be underestimated at any point. Nay the present success should be de-linked from the inception phase. This is necessary to have an objective understanding of the situation and deciding the next course of higher action.
Another very important development of the inception phase deserves definite mention. In 1995, the National Platform of Mass Organisations (NPMO) composed of the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions and the Left Wing Class and Mass Organisations was launched. The fight against neo-liberal policies conducted under the banner of the NPMO continues to be remembered with due distinction at all levels even today. It was a historical experience with inherent political potentials. True even after the NPMO became inactive, the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions continued the fight against neo-liberalism and the latest result is the 2nd September strike. But the need for re-commissioning of the NPMO is a pre-condition for pushing forward the historic 2nd September success to achieve the goal of squarely defeating the authoritarian form and anti-people contents of the atrocious policies of the Modi government affecting all sections of the society – workers, agricultural labourers, poor peasants, women, youths and students.
UNITY OF ALL
CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS
On 14th July 2009, representatives of all Central Trade Unions met in New Delhi and decided to forge total unity of central trade unions and national industrial and service sector workers’ federations. This was a new milestone in the history of independent India’s trade union movement. The National Convention of Workers held in New Delhi on 14th September, 2009 formally launched the All-in-One Trade Union Unity Forum. Under the leadership of All-in-One Unity Forum, crores of workers have been repeatedly mobilised in various programmes of protest and agitation including strikes. This Unity Forum conducted four national strike actions – 7th September 2010, 28th February 2012, 20-21 February 2013 and 2nd September 2015. Apart from these national general strike actions, there have been numerous sectoral strike actions.
Certain objective developments must not go un-noticed which have directly or indirectly contributed in the forging of the total unity. The major factors are the economic meltdown of 2008, Wall Street collapse, outbreak of current economic crisis in the USA and quick spread in the entire Europe and the consequential discrediting of the policies of neo-liberalism and increasing attack on the toiling people by the capitalist class in their pursuit to pass on the entire burden of the crisis on the working class. Collapse of unsustainable export driven growth models, phenomenal rise in unemployment, huge job losses, attack on rights of lives and livelihood and so on forced the trade unions hitherto ardent advocates of neo-liberalism to close rank, raise their voice of protest and rally on the roads. Therefore, the Unity Forum can well be termed as the imperative need of the hour.
SOME FACTORS BEHIND
THE HISTORIC RESPONSE
The historic response to the strike call is a rebuff to the extremely exploitative anti-people policies being pursued by the Modi government surpassing the record of the erstwhile UPA regime. The 2nd September Strike is verdict of the working class against the corporate captive character and activities of the Modi government. It is expression of anger of the toiling people against price rise, against unemployment, against denial of recognition and for grant of all rights as regular workers to those more than ten millions who are deceptively called ‘scheme workers’, against atrocities of contractorisation, demanding national minimum wage as per ILC consensus, demanding universal fair social security. Moreover the demands include opposition to many anti-people economic policies including privatisation of public sector industries through disinvestment, against FDI in Railways and Defence Production, etc. So far as the attacks on labour laws are concerned, the Modi regime has resorted to cruelty unparallel in independent India.
Apart from the issues, the scale of campaign jointly conducted by the constituents of the Unity Forum at grassroots level for the strike this time was much better than all previous occasions. The coverage in terms of locations, sectors and number of workers was unique and so too huge production of campaign materials. The message of unity has entrenched well at grassroots level centering round the strike campaign all over the country. All the constituents of the Unity Forum conducted their respective internal meetings at all levels.
Another factor which has contributed to the success of the strike is the struggle in agricultural front against the notorious land bill. CITU also organised with great success solidarity action in support of struggle of the peasantry. In West Bengal, the success of ‘Nabanna March’ on 27th August and resounding success of the 2nd September Bandh have played complementary role. We have lessons to learn aimed at launching united struggle of these two basic classes.
THE CHALLENGES EMANATING
FROM THE SUCCESS
Each and every constituents of the Unity Forum deserves due appreciation and encouragement for their contribution in forging the unity and unleashing the united struggles. It must be the top priority of all of the constituents not only to protect the unity but constantly carry on struggles to strengthen the unity for higher struggles for the cause of toiling people.
The historic success of the strike has surely generated hope and confidence amongst the participants and supporters of the strike to resist the attack and achieve settlement of the demands. The 2nd September success should provide solid ground for pushing the movement to new heights till the demands are realised. Monotony and ritualism are twin odds which can derail or slow down the struggles of the working class. Let us hope that the powerful wave generated by 2nd September strike shall not be allowed to break before hitting the shore. Trade Unions with more commitment to the interest of the working class have a historical responsibility to play the role of engine to the united movement and speed up the struggles. It is most appropriate time to push forward the foundation pledge of CITU: ‘Struggle for Unity and Unity for Struggle’.
Strike is part of day-to-day struggles but not de-linking with the ultimate goal of total emancipation of the working class. Lenin said, “Strikes, which arises out of the very nature of capitalist society, signify the beginning of the working class struggle against that system of society … strike, moreover, opens the eyes of the workers to the nature, not only of the capitalists, but of the government and the laws as well.” The message is loud and clear. Success of any big struggle and for that matter strike struggle cannot be measured only in terms of number of participants. The question of achieving better changes in correlation of class forces in the light of Lenin’s teaching is imperative and inseparable.
