Among the Public Sector industries in Andhra Pradesh, Singareni coal mining industry is in fact one of the crucial players. It is spread over the districts of Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad. Nearly one lakh thirty thousand workers are employed in this industry. Elections for “Union Recognition” for corporate level and for 13 divisions took place on 19^th February 2001 which were contested by 11 unions.

AITUC with 21,599 votes won the recognition while INTUC with 21,044 votes came second. IFTU secured the third spot with 14,882 votes. IFTU improved its performance in the last election when it stood fourth with 12,674 votes. Of the 13 divisions, alliance of IFTU and AIFTU won in two divisions – Ramagundem I & II, while AITUC won in six divisions, INTUC in four and HMS in one division. Ramagundem I has 17,000 workers, while Ramagundem II has 8,463 workers.

In these elections, AITUC’s position declined sharply, though they pumped in a lot of money and energy in the process. It even bought several INTUC leaders. Its victory is superficial as its roots are being plucked off. In the elections of 1998, it had secured 31.93% votes as opposed to only 20.19 % this time. This result clearly shows the weight of opposition to AITUC and they should take this reality into account and take all unions into proper consideration. There is no hesitation in asserting that if they behave arrogantly, the circulars and agreements signed by them will hardly be implemented.

In the last elections, INTUC’s two sections had contested in the election winning 17.290 votes and had stood third. INTUC had won only in one division. The two groups merged this time to fight these elections. INTUC campaign, supervised by their leaders, was packed with food packets and drinks – an extravaganza erasing the difference between their party and trade union. While INTUC pumped in a lot of money towards purchasing activists, its own activists even got purchased by others. It was most evident in Kothagudem.

HMS had won 3,785 votes in the last election, ranking 5^th. In this election, it managed to get only 2,485 votes, 1,300 less than last time, however managing to win Ramagundem division IV even this time. Their campaign, concentrated in Ramagundem division IV, was based on false promises and drink parties.

BMS, theoretically the biggest union in the country and a constituent of JBCCI, was taught a good lesson by Singareni workers rooting it out completely in this election. In the last election, it had 2,026 votes, while only 619 votes in this election. They had made a lot of false promises and tall claims saying that Central Govt. is theirs and that they would ensure that coal industry is not privatized nor coal imported. Workers correctly disbelieved them.

CITU’s campaign was marked by its assumption of victory claiming that ‘three increments’ gained in 6^th wage agreement worked to its credit. It left no stone unturned to propagate against IFTU and ensuring its defeat particularly in Kothagudem division. Though it improved on its performance – in the last election polling 5,251 votes as compared to 3,277 votes this time, it however retained its sixth position. It failed to win even a single division.

Singareni Association of Joint Action Committees (SAAJAC) comprising of 37 professional unions formed in opposition to central unions. Some of these might have been established by Singareni Karmika Sangham (SIKASA) which was proved by the support extended to SAAJAC by SIKASA in 1998 and 2001 elections in opposition to all revolutionary unions. In the last elections SAAJAC had 2^nd position with 21,228 votes and had won two divisions – Ramagundem I and II. This time it claimed that it would further improve its position and get JBCCI membership and pumped in a lot of money for pomp and show. But it was sharply rebuffed by workers, polling only 8,576 votes – its votes declining from 21% to only 8.25% this time.

There is a good lesson for professional unions in this. Having been born in frustration with the unions and having united only to fight elections in the name of “Staff and Workers Union” only to take care of the interests of their own sections afterwards.  This attitude of the professional unions ignites divisional politics providing opportunity to the management to divide and rule. In the end, all these unions are ending up as tails to different ruling class parties. They must learn that they should work in central unions and not fall prey to divisions. It is worth mentioning that leader of SAAJAC, Janak Prasad, is a Congress leader and a big lobbyist, while many other leaders of SAAJAC are actively connected to TDP.

TNTUC belonging to the ruling TDP had totally depended on the misuse of power from the beginning. A number of ministers held press conferences and meetings in their support and made a number of promises. While IFTU was hampered in its campaign in all possible ways by police, like beating up of a jeep driver for having IFTU flag, police went out of its way to promote the chances of the ruling party. TNTUC attached a lot of importance to winning these elections, each MLA was made in charge of a division. They got personal letters written to each worker by the Chief Minister himself through a unique unheard of feat. The workers saw their deception and they got only 9,788 votes, thus securing the 4^th position. This is, however, higher than that in the last election, when they had polled only 2,599 votes.

Efforts to Unite Unions Belonging to CR Groups

In Singareni IFTU tried to unite all the revolutionary unions. In the last elections IFTU and AIFTU unions had contested separately poling 12,694 and 777 votes respectively. This time, the two decided to fight the election together and had also written to other groups, but they did not yield. Eventually these two fought together on IFTU logo.

CPI(ML)-Phani Bagchi trumpet that Singareni coal mines in Godavari valley belong to them. They registered a separate union as “Godavari Loya Boggu Karmika Union”, thus imitating the name of IFTU, only adding ‘union’ at the end. They campaigned against IFTU leaders leveling all sorts of allegations. They polled only 103 votes, while in the last election they had 114 votes.

Leader of Singareni Workers Union, of UCCRI(ML)-DV, initially agreed for the united fight. He had even suggested that GLBKS (IFTU) should directly contest and others should support it. Later they backed out saying that their senior leaders are not agreeable to it and hence united fight is not possible. They contested the election separately getting 310 votes, having polled 414 votes in the last election. It is hoped that they would at least now recognize the need of unity.

SIKASA must Justify its Decision

SIKASA had supported SAAJAC in 1998 election, but could not help it win even in a single division in Bellampally region where it was supposed to be strong. SAAJAC which had won in Ramagundem divisions I and II last time, immersed itself in dishonest practices, making lobbying its main activity. Despite this, SIKASA supported SAAJAC even this time. There was speculation about their support this time, but they came out in open support of SAAJAC. Let us hope that at least now, SIKASA would rethink and clarify its stand opposing all other unions and extending its unconditional support to SAAJAC.

IFTU Victory had to Overcome Many Conspiracies

Before the election itself, the victory of IFTU was clearly foreseen in Ramagundem division II. As anticipated it won over AITUC by 2,886 votes. Division I of Ramagundem is the biggest division in the entire Singareni having 17,000 voters. IFTU has been functioning in this area since 1978 fighting many struggles, overcoming many hardships. This division witnessed a close fight between IFTU and AITUC. The result was postponed for two days. Recounting was held there. All unfair means were used even at the recounting stage, where even police started recounting, loose votes were added by manipulation. Finally, they had to announce the victory of IFTU on 20^th February 2001.