THE Andaman & Nicobar State Conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) was held on November 21-22 in Port Blair. The two-day conference gave a call to intensify movements on various long-pending and genuine demands of the employees and workers in the islands.

The conference began with an open session at Tiranga Park, Aberdeen Bazar in Port Blair at 5 p.m. Before the open session, a huge procession of workers marched through the main areas of Port Blair. Nearly two thousand workers participated in the rally, which was one of the largest processions in recent times organised by any organisation or political party in the islands. A large number of women workers, mostly young women, participated in the procession which was led by CITU leaders B Chandrachoodan and M Boominathan, and leaders of Non-Gazetted Government Officers’ Association S N Mishra and T S Sreekumar among others. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and CITU president A K Padmanabhan also joined the procession, which culminated at Tiranga Park, the venue of the open session.

Padmanabhan hoisted the CITU flag and paid tributes to the martyrs at a specially-erected martyrs column at the venue, amidst thundering slogans by hundreds of workers and delegates. Addressing the open session, Padmanabhan criticised the central government for its failure to arrest the prices of food items, particularly various types of dal. Lower strata of the society are facing hardship due to the sky-rocketing prices, he said. Referring to the demand of the central trade unions for Rs 15,000 per month as minimum wages, the CITU president said that the minimum wages should be such that it is sufficient to maintain a family.

On the report submitted by the Seventh Central Pay Commission, Padmanabhan said many of the recommendations of the Commission are anti-employee and need to be resisted. The employees’ organisations in the country had demanded Rs 26,000 as the minimum pay, but the Commission has recommended a minimum pay of Rs 18,000. The central government employees are going to protest against the Central Pay Commission recommendations.  He said that CITU’s slogan is unity and struggle, and called upon the government employees and workers in these islands to strengthen the CITU and its unions. The employees and workers should not only remain united but should also join the struggle. He further said it is the red flag which can only be an inspiration for the working class to fight against the exploitation being indulged in by the capitalist forces and ruling classes all over the world.

Expressing deep concern at the communal politics unleashed by a section of people with the blessings of the ruling BJP, Padmanabhan called upon the workers to remain away from such forces. Referring to the silence of the Prime Minister on important issues concerning the people, he said Narendra Modi is speaking more in foreign countries than in the country.

The open session was also addressed by CITU state secretary B Chandrachoodan, T S Sreekumar, and S N Mishra of Non-Gazetted Government Officers’ Association. S P Kalairajan, chairman of the Reception Committee welcomed the gathering.

The delegate session of the conference was held on November 22 at Hotel ACC Auditorium, Mohanpura, Port Blair. The delegate session began with the adoption of condolence resolution in memory of those leaders and workers who died during the period under report.   Thereafter, Padmanabhan addressed the delegates. Addressing the session, he recalled the history of trade union movement in the world with particular emphasis on the struggles of the workers for eight-hour duty. In India, the trade union movement started 100 years ago, he said.  Due to the continued struggles during these 100 years, the government had enacted a number of labour welfare legislation. Padmanabhan said that whatever benefits the workers and employees are enjoying today is the outcome of the protracted struggles by the trade unions in the country. He called upon the government employees and workers in these islands to identify and assess which organisation is fighting for the cause of the employees and workers.

Thereafter, CITU state secretary Chandrachoodan presented the report on the functioning of CITU and its affiliated unions, while treasurer S Chinnaiah submitted the audited accounts of the state unit. Delegates actively participated in the discussion on the secretary’s report. After discussion, the report and audited accounts were unanimously approved by the session. Resolutions on 12 demands/issues were presented in the session which were thoroughly discussed and adopted. About 120 delegates and observers representing thousands of members from different trade unions, from Campbell Bay, the southernmost part of the union territory, to Diglipur, the northern part of the UT, attended the conference.

A new state committee with nine office-bearers and 21 members was also elected at the delegate session. M Boominathan was elected as new president while B Chandrachoodan was re-elected as state secretary. Sathyanarayan, S Chithambaram and Daniel Aind were elected as vice-presidents while Madan Mohan Das, S Chinnaiah and V K Krishna Das are the new secretaries.  Shyamal  Kolay is the  new treasurer. There are two women members in the newly-elected state committee.

S P Kalairajan, chairman of the Reception Committee, proposed the vote of thanks at the end of the conference.