Delhi: CITU-led Unions Make Major Gains in Delhi-NCR Region
AS the effects of the intensifying capitalist crisis continue to impose severe hardships on workers across various sectors, the recent achievements of the unions under the leadership of the CITU Delhi state committee, demonstrate that it is not only feasible to safeguard past accomplishments but also to make substantial progress, even in such challenging circumstances. This brief report aims to document this crucial experience, which carries profound significance for the broader nature and direction of the trade union movement. It comes at a time when the capitalist crisis, coupled with its political manifestation in the form of growing authoritarianism and a right-wing offensive, is on the rise.
PROGRESS IN SAHIBABAD INDUSTRIAL AREA
The industrial production landscape in Delhi-NCR is characterised by a combination of a few modern, technology-based factories and a majority of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector factories. While modern technology-based factories house both capital and skilled workers, the surrounding MSME sector factories employ a vast number of workers. This entire framework serves as a mechanism for exploitation and surplus extraction.
The post-Covid era has witnessed a surge in attacks against workers in both categories of factories, with active support from both central and state governments. This surge in hostilities can be traced back to the deepening capitalist crisis. In factories equipped with modern technologies, where workers had hitherto made notable advancements, including improvements in working conditions and wages through their unions, efforts to erode these gains have intensified. Conversely, in the MSME sector, where labour laws are often disregarded, wage reductions and layoffs have surged exponentially.
Against this backdrop, we must view the struggle of the industrial workers in Sahibabad. Site 4 of Sahibabad has long been a pivotal hub for a militant trade union movement in the broader Delhi-NCR region. It boasts a substantial number of modern technology-based factories, including those producing automobile components and engineering goods. During the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the owners of these industries attempted layoffs and wage reductions.
However, wherever unions led by CITU were active, these efforts were thwarted by mobilising workers for direct action at the factory gates. For instance, following three months of continuous protests against a one-month salary deduction for union officials at SFC Solutions, the management eventually reimbursed the deducted salary. After a three-month agitation against the retrenchment of 23 workers at The Indure Private Ltd., their jobs were reinstated. Similarly, at Holyfaith, where workers received only 15 days' salary for six months, their withheld wages were returned after a year of persistent protests.
COLLECTIVE ACTIONS LEAD TO SUCCESSFUL AGREEMENTS
As a direct outcome of collective actions by the working class, the struggles that unions undertook to secure fair agreements with various managements in 2021-2022 have borne fruit. In August 2023, all of these agreements were finalised and formalised in the presence of the labour department.
SFC Solutions manufactures a range of components for the automobile industry. As part of the agreement, there will be a wage increase ranging from Rs 4,400 to 11,000 until 2028, along with comprehensive improvements in all the facilities outlined in the previous agreement. Additionally, the management will provide a retirement benefit of Rs 1,51,000 to employees.
The Indure Private Ltd specialises in the production of various components for power plants. As part of the agreement, there will be a wage increase of Rs 3,000, in addition to a six-monthly dearness allowance as announced by the Uttar Pradesh government for the engineering industry. Furthermore, a noteworthy achievement is the union securing a written agreement for the regularisation of six temporary workers each year. At a time when the increasing contract employment has become a significant tool for profit for the owners, this victory by the union is also crucial in fostering unity between permanent and temporary workers.
Holyfaith International is a publishing company. In addition to enhancements in the facilities outlined in the previous agreement, the union has successfully negotiated a wage increase of Rs 2,000-2,400 by 2025. Furthermore, workers who were not entitled to bonus payments due to salary limit restrictions under the Bonus Payment Act will now receive a bonus at a rate of 8.33 per cent, calculated on the basis of Rs 21,000.
Punjab Bevel Gear Private Ltd specialises in the production of gears for heavy machinery. A wage increase of Rs 1,000-1,500 has been negotiated, along with enhancements to the existing facilities.
PALLEDARS' STRIKE
Head loaders, or ‘palledars,’ rallied under the leadership of the Delhi Transport Karmachari Lal Jhanda Union and initiated direct strike actions in two key areas: Gandhi Nagar on September 13, 2023 (where garment units are concentrated), and Naya Bazaar on September 28, 2023 (which primarily houses grain dealers). Prior to the strikes, an extensive campaign and series of group meetings were conducted among the workers. The strike became necessary when their demand notices to various transport owners went unheeded.
In response to the strike action, the transport owners in the Gandhi Nagar area agreed to introduce weighing machines (previously, items weighing more than 100 kgs were compensated based on 100 kgs) and also increased the rates per item for delivery by Rs 5 to Rs 10 per 100 kgs. Similarly, transport owners in the Naya Bazar area consented to raise the rates per 100 kgs by Rs 1 to Rs 2.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Street vendors near Nizamuddin Dargah have secured their livelihoods through persistent mobilising and legal struggles over the past three years, under the leadership of the Delhi Pradesh Rehri, Patri, Khomcha Hawkers Union. This success has also opened up opportunities for expansion among other unorganised sector workers in the Nizamuddin-Bhogal region.
The Employees' Union of Mani Tau Pvt Ltd, a multinational modern technology industry in Greater Noida, compelled the management to agree to the regularisation of 17 contractual workers. This achievement holds even greater significance in light of the attack on the union last year (as an attempt to fracture the unity of permanent and contractual workers) and the subsequent successful counter-offensive by the union. Similarly, the union's continuous efforts led to the regularisation of seven contractual employees at another multinational corporation, Vibracoustic.
The Airport Employees Union played a key role in ensuring the regularisation of 27 contractual employees at Oberoi Flight Kitchen.
