THE 16th conference of CITU is scheduled to be held in Chennai from January 23-27, 2020. With only a few days left, final touches are being given to the preparations for the conference. Chennai is hosting the all India conference for the third time.

The fourth all India conference of CITU was held in Madras in April 1979. At that time, with more than 5000 delegates, it was a Himalayan task for CITU and its fraternal organisations in Tamil Nadu to host the conference, which was successfully carried out.

The second opportunity was in 2003, to host the 11th conference. With the organisational capacities improved, that conference was well organised. The only difficulty in Chennai to host the conference was non-availability of a hall which could accommodate 2500 delegates and additional volunteers, which was also somehow successfully managed. 

Now, for the 16th conference, Tamil Nadu CITU has been given once again the responsibility of hosting it. 16th conference has become historically important as it is being held in the Golden Jubilee year of CITU and the centenary of formation of the first central trade union, All India Trade Union Congress.
With deepening crisis in almost all sectors and incessant attacks from the ruling classes, big struggles are going on in different parts of the state. Simultaneously, preparations have also been going on during this period for making the all India strike on January 8, successful. Conference preparations had begun even before the reception committee was formed on July 4, 2019. A broad based reception committee was formed with 1000 members. T K Rengarajan MP, A Soundararajan, G Sukumaran, and Malathi Chittibabu were elected as honorary president, president, general secretary and treasurer respectively.

18 sub-committees headed by the senior leaders of CITU and other fraternal organisations are on the job.

Mobilisation of fund has been going on despite loss of jobs and other crisis affecting almost all sectors; CITU members and also various sections of employees from fraternal organisations have been actively involved in the work.  

Delegate session is to be held in the central part of Chennai city. It is a private land, taken on rent and a temporary hall is being built.

The venue for the delegate session from January 23-27, is named after the senior leaders of Indian working class, “Sukomal Sen Manch” in “Mohammad Amin Nagar”.

The public meeting on the 27th afternoon is to be held in another maidan in Nandanam, south Chennai. Efforts are being made to get the permission from authorities to conduct a procession, which will culminate in the public meeting. More than a lakh of men and women workers from all parts of the state are expected to participate.

The venue of the public meeting is named after Comrade M Singaravelar, who played a leading role in the formation of the first trade union of the country, ‘Madras Labour Union’ in 1918 and also in organising the first ‘May Day’ celebration in the country, held at Chennai in 1923.
As part of the campaign, various activities are being carried out. Two seminars were held on current issues in two places; special meetings, general body meetings, gate meetings, posters by reception committee and by various federations, family get togethers, thousands of stickers, lakhs of handbills, wall writings in hundreds of places and  display of banners  are being organised throughout the state. On December 15, 2019, ‘Flag Day’ was observed by hoisting CITU flag in the houses of members on the death anniversary day of Comrade P Ramamurthy. Jathas carrying ‘Martyrs Jyotis” from seven different places – Coimbatore, Venmani (Nagapattinam district), Kanyakumari, Trichy, North Chennai, Madurai and Pudhucherry  will start on January 19 and reach  Chennai on January 22nd evening. The working class will give enthusiastic reception at various centres  covering almost the entire state.

CITU centre has also directed all states to observe ‘Flag Day’ on January 19, 2020 by hoisting the CITU flag in all offices and districts.

As is well known, the 16th all India conference of CITU is being held at a time when the working people and toiling masses of the country are facing serious challenges. Despite various hurdles, befitting arrangements are being made by the reception committee to welcome the delegates and for the proper conduct of the proceedings of the conference.