'March to Parliament' on Dec 12 by Trade Unions

Within ten months from the historic two day countrywide general strike on February 20 – 21 this year, the working class of India is again getting ready for another country wide struggle, this time in the form of a mammoth ‘March to Parliament’ on December 12. All the eleven central trade unions who have been jointly leading the campaign and struggle on the ten point charter of demands since the last four years have called for this ‘March to Parliament’.The Ten Demands of the Joint Trade Union Movement of India are as follows:

1. Concrete measures to contain price rise

2. Strict enforcement of labour laws

3. Constitute National Social Security Fund at the national level to provide universal social security coverage to unorganised workers

4. No contractorisation of work of permanent/ perennial nature; equal wages and benefits for contract workers as the permanent workers doing the same job

5. Minimum wage of not less than Rs 10000 per month linked with consumer price index; amendment to Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of schedules

6. Stop disinvestment of Public Sector Undertakings

7. Concrete measures for employment generation

8. Assured pension for all

9. Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility for bonus, provident fund, gratuity etc

10. Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of ILO Conventions No 87 and 98

The call is fully supported by most of the independent national federations of employees and workers from other sectors like insurance, banks, state and central government departments, defence, BSNL, etc. Massive protest demonstrations will also be held on the same day and on the same demands at the district headquarters all over the country.

Thousands of employees, including those from far off states like Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka etc have already made preparations to reach Delhi catching whatever train they can to participate in the ‘March’. Anganwadi workers and helpers, ASHAs, mid day meal workers, construction workers, brick kiln workers, contract workers in different industries and sectors, plantation workers, fishers – in fact workers and employees from all states and all sectors, from big towns and remote villages have made their plans for reaching the national capital on that day.

What has irked the workers and fuelled their indignation is the total lack of action from the government on the demands that they have continuously been raising since the last more than four years, jointly in various forms and from all platforms. This has led to the Prime Minister himself to publicly acknowledge in the 45th session of the Indian Labour Conference, the highest tripartite forum of the country that the demands raised by the trade unions related “to the welfare not only of the working classes but also the people at large. These include demands on which there can be no disagreement. For example, demands for concrete measures for containing inflation, for generation of employment opportunities, for strict implementation of labour laws, are unexceptionable”. But, nearly nine months after the Prime Minister made this statement, nothing concrete has been done by his government.

Instead, prices of all essential commodities have been soaring; employment opportunities further shrinking and labour laws continue to be flouted not only with impunity but with the full backing of the administration and those that lead the government themselves in some states.

What is more appalling is that the entire political discourse in the media and by the ruling classes, whether during the recently concluded elections to the state assemblies, or on the eve of the elections to the Parliament that are due in a few months has sought to totally ignore the issues of the workers and the people. Instead of focussing on the day-to-day concerns of the people, price rise, employment, education, health etc, and the policies that are responsible for their plight, the media is busy debating ‘NaMo’ vs ‘RaGa’.

The ‘March to Parliament’ and the months long campaign seeking to reach to the workers and the people in the entire country is an effort to keep the real issues of the people in the discussion among the people. The corporate controlled media might choose to mimic the ostrich towards the people’s issues but the democratic movements cannot.

They are determined to keep the debate on peoples’ day-to-day problems alive during the elections to the Parliament and strengthen the struggle for a change of the anti-worker and anti-people policies in the coming days.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Newsclick