1.         Since the last conference of IFTU at Eluru in early 2006, the anti-worker policies being unleashed under the banner of ‘new economic policies’ and globalization since 1990s, have both intensified  and broadened their spread. Contractualization and temporary nature of employment have made their mark in big corporates, MNCs, big private companies and entire sectors of govt. employees, in addition to the rest of  private sector. Not only is the nature of employment temporary, but in addition this working class rarely gets even stipulated min. wages and facilities and also the trend is towards pushing through flexibility of working hours to prolong the workday. In totality , as the Call of the Eluru Conference pointed out, the thrust is towards ever cheapening of labour and creating conditions even more conducive for boundless exploitation.

This drive is of course overlaid on the anti worker policies which have been the hall mark of rulers of India right since 1947. Labour and trade union laws framed by colonial rulers under pressure of workers’ struggles were left unchanged, their application was dependent on workers’ struggles. There is no central law for making managements negotiate with elected unions. Draconian laws like ESMA were framed to restrict workers’ struggles further, and draconian laws like NSA were used against workers’ leaders.

2.         In India, the period since the last IFTU conference has largely been the period of rule of the ‘Left’ front supported UPA Govt. in a mileu of all parliamentary parties being one on the implementation of anti worker, anti people, pro-imperialist new economic policies. Though to keep vote banks alive these parties tokenly side with struggles against the policies in those states where they are not in power, all section of ruling class are one on the policies. 

             As pointed out in the Call of Eluru Conference, reactionary trade union centres like INTUC, BMS, and others wholeheartedly support the pro imperialist anti worker policies of the ruling classes and organize no struggles against attacks by anti worker policies. Reformist trade union centres like CITU, AITUC oppose the policies in words but betray from within the working class and try to erode its fighting ability and capacity from within its ranks

3.         In continuity with the situation described in the IFTU Call of Eluru, the primary and overriding effect in the past two and a half years has been an explosion in casual and contractual employment in private sector, replacement of regular workforce by contractual workers in entire departments in govt. employees and non recruitment of permanent workers on posts of retired workers especially in Class III and IV employees. In big corporates and MNCs, contractual and casual workforce is on the rise. This firstly helps to get the same labour force at cheaper rates than regular workers because such workers are employed at least wages. Secondly, it helps to dilute the struggles and rights of regular workers by employers threatening to carry on work with the temporary workers. Thirdly it breaks working class unity by throwing some benefits to regular workers but linking this to not having to extend the same to the non regular workers. Thus the employers pit the two sections of workers against each other, threatening the regular that their privileges are dependent on allowing undiluted loot of the others. The upper echelons of organized working class and employees have been drugged into silence by financial doles. The response of Indian working class to these attacks in the period have been far too weak in proportion. This issue is linked to visionary and organizational weakness of IFTU.

4.         In a situation in which there are 3 crore 70 lakh workers in the organized sector against 37 crores in the unorganized sectors- 10 crore in industrial sector- the stress as already stated is on wage depression of workers. This is being of course sought to be achieved by replacing permanent jobs by daily wage, casual and contract jobs and by giving all fresh jobs on temporary basis. In Jute industry a multi-tier wage system has been introduced by managements simply to depress wages by introducing newer categories of workers. There was an agreement that in the jute mills working compliments must be on 90:20 basis, that is for every 90 permanent workers only 20 badlis can be recruited. This is being violated and now this method is being extended to other sectors like textiles and sections of garment industry.

5.         The process of privatization of public sector industries has not been a prime area of thrust in past two and half years, but the sword continues to dangle over the head of even profit making PSUs. No recruitment is taking place in the public sector units. The National Jute Mills are being put up for privatization and NTC textile mills’ privatization is rapidly proceeding. Power generation is being privatized to varying extent in various states.Privatization of certain categories of employment especially in class IV categories govt. service sectors like health and education has seen rapid acceleration in this period.

6.         The sixth pay commission report released in 2008 furthers the same ends. It is characterized firstly by a gross discrepancy in the wage relief offered to upper sections and to rank and file of govt. employees. Secondly, it launches a harsh attack on Class IV employees whom it aims to do away with altogether, with the services therein to be further contractualized and partially privatized. This pay commission report was released in the period of left front supported UPA rule.

7.         The UPA Govt. has recently forced ahead the opening up of provident funds to private sector financial companies including Samajwadi Party’s blue-eyed boy Anil Ambani. Alongside, Interest Rate on PF funds remain pegged at 8.5% this year. It should be clear that opening up of Provident Funds also extends to Pension funds. For both law clearly states that losses suffered in investments, if any, has to be borne from these funds themselves. Thus money of workers is up for private players to play around with, but the security earlier associated with these deposits will be eroded.

            The EPS has not been reviewed, and this scheme has not been linked to price index.

8.         The BPO sector, which at the time of last conference was an emerging and expanding sector, has not extended much; rather the economic crisis in the US is adversely impacting the same. However, the sector remains poorly organized due as much to the lack of class consciousness of the workers and is highly exploitative of skilled labour. ‘Indian Govt. has connived by opening up night shift for women workers without any stipulation for providing adequate security including in travel to and from workplace.’  The issue of security of workers especially of women workers while traveling to and fro from workplace at odd hours, has starkly emerged as a serious issue with several rapes and killings in several big cities. It shows to what extent these companies with their thriving profits rest on the loot of the cheap qualified labour of third world. The issue of poor unionization persists as a problem for trade union movement to tackle.

9.         In this period the working class employed in construction industry has emerged in a big way in construction of malls, metros, commercial complexes, etc in all major cities. The social security bill for unorganized industry is to take the pressure off from the big contractors who are taking up construction projects to relieve them from the burden of extending statutory facilities of ESI and PF to their workers. Provisions of this bill are already being implemented in modified forms in various states.Apart from whatever effectivity this proposed much hyped bill may have in a mileu where no labour law implementation is occurring the fact remains that the vast sections of workers in private sector industries and casual and contractual workers remain outside the statutory net of ESI and PF facilities. The Construction Workers Act of 1996 is also not being implemented in many states.

10.       Meanwhile unemployment and under employment continue to rise, the NSO survey on employment (47^th round) shows rise of figures for both in urban areas. There is no employment guarantee scheme for urban areas.

11.       Since early this year, the country is in the grip of back breaking price rise with fall in GDP, and no sign in any let up of the same. The price rise is linked to fall in agricultural production due to new economic policies and also to the rise in cost of petrol and oil products larglely due to heavy indirect taxes imposed on them by Govt. The back breaking price rise in essential commodities has hit the working class including salaried working class along with all sections of working people. Alongside, the systematic decimation of PDS has further heightened the burden on workers and all toilers.

12.       Working class of India forced to migrate abroad for employment especially for adequate remuneration to make two ends meet faces exploitative policies especially in the failure of successive govts of India to provide adequate protective backup. In this year alone scores of workers in Dubai were arrested on criminal charges for protesting against food unfit for human consumption and govt. of India did not ensure that leading workers too were released from jail, nor withdrawal of false cases and return of workers. Workers were duped in to going to US on false promises but despite many weeks of struggle by them, govt. did nothing to force honouring of commitments made to them.

13.       Globalisation has hit hard the cottage industry, handloom sector and other native sectors due to dumping of products from several countries particularly China.

In retail sector some opposition to reliance outlets in some big cities has been there but the fact is that in past two years there is an explosion in retail sector of corporate houses and the stage is set for entry of big retail MNCs as partners of the same.

14.       Courts in India, high courts and supreme court in particular, continue in abetting the ruling classes of India in implementing anti-worker, pro globalization policies. Judgements upholding dismissals of workers on sundry petty charges have been passed.   Attempts to implement several aspects of second labour commission, are being upheld by the courts. For instance, provisions of Chapter V-B are being set aside by judgements. Supreme Court has attacked the question of “equal pay for equal work”; provisions of Contract Labour Act have been brushed aside by Courts giving green signal for perpetual contract workers in permanent work. Courts have attacked the right to strike in various ways from time to time in this period.

15.       As was noted in the conference, labour departments all over the country have abdicated the task of labour law enforcement and in this way are actually furthering the aim of second labour commission. Staff to these depts. is curtailed, the staff remains habitually deputed to other tasks of the govt. like election duties. The situation has worsened in last 2.5 years especially as non unionization is the rule in contract and casual workers.

16.       The period under discussion saw implementation of 27% OBC quota in education and the casteist anti reservation stir against it which quite often extended to opposing existing SC-ST quota also. The struggle was especially sharp in big metropolitan cities and more so in professional students. Working class of India did not participate in any significant extent against casteist attacks and tirades and to uphold reservations. In some industries where such debate was forced Unions took a position that it is a divisive issue which in total amounts to upholding upper caste privileges. In addition last two and half years have seen many  heinous acts of violence against dalits in different parts of the country.

17.       The country has been plunged into communal disharmony in several places to differing extents to distract from the  problems of the people. Communal forces led by Congress and BJP have kept Jammu burning under a fabricated issue of pilgrimage to amaranth which has been on for past 160 years. Both parties have used it to stoke passions in the rest of the country, though they have met restricted success. Communal frenzy has been let loose by hindutva hordes against Christians in Orissa abetted by BJD led govt. As part of communal conspiracies against the people, bomb blasts are also taking place in various parts of the country.In addition, chauvinist forces attacked poor workers and taxi drivers in Mumbai in misplaced struggles to divide people rather than allow focussing attention on joblessness.

18.       Democratic rights of Kashmiri people are being crushed underfoot and ruling classes continue to refuse to respect the democratic aspirations of people of Kashmir. This year seen repeated outpourings of lakhs in the Valley against subversion of land laws of J&K, against economic blockade of Valley and for azadi. In the name of ‘terrorism’ by Kashmiris and by Muslims, democratic rights of the people of India are being curtailed. There is now talk of return of POTA, other anti-terrorist laws abound in various states, Kashmir and Northeast are ruled by repressive laws and Army acting as occupation forces. Working class must not forget that detenues under POTA were mostly textile workers just as NSA was first used against TU leaders and even evoked against leaders of Electricity workers in UP who struggled against privatization.

19.       The past two years have been marked by anti-land acquisition struggles of peasantry. They have effectively grounded this aspect of NEP and pro-imperialist policies. Though SEZ Act was passed unanimously to create areas where labour laws are kept in abeyance and a repressive state machinery is on alert for defence of rights of owners, in practice the anti-acquisition struggles have limited the development of such sectors.Working class can play a much wider role both in solidarity movements and also against the corporates and MNCs pushing for acquisitions as well as govts. using colonial laws to forcibly comply. This will strengthen the working class’s own struggle against anti-worker policies of these very sections.

20.       In this period several big struggles of workers have taken place in various sectors and under varying leaderships. There have been two one day general strikes, struggles of BSNL workers, of workers in the banking and insurance sectors, anganwadi workers, panchayatraj workers, contract teachers, airport employees and of others. In this period struggles of  contract and non-permanent workers for basic rights broke out. Struggle of piece-rated workers in coal sector for arrears of VIIth wage board, struggles of jute workers of Andhra Pradesh, Bengal against reduction of wages through multi-tier wage structure, struggle of textile workers of Panipat and foundry workers of Batala for statutory rights and Bidi workers against govt.’s attempts to hit the sector are among several notable struggles. Eruption of such struggles shows pent up anger of workers. These struggles have come up in the atmosphere of overall decline of even routine economic struggles of workers due to submissive policies of reactionary trade union centres and capitulationist policies of reformist trade union centres. The need is to widen both struggles and organizations so that Indian working class emerges as leader of struggles against pro-imperialist policies.

21.       At the time of last conference, US imperialism had already launched war of occupation against Iraq. In this period the brave and patriotic people of Iraq and Afghanistan have grounded the chariot wheel of US imperialism. The limits of US imperialism stand exposed. Simultaneously in Latin America, one country after another has slipped out of dictates of US imperialism. The power equations of middle-east are being rewritten with Hezbollah’s victory over US backed Israel, defeat of American stooges in Lebanon, continued struggle of Palestinians for their national rights and Iran resisting the US designs in the middle-east. These changes in the world lead to better conditions for anti-imperialist struggles.

22.       There has been increase in the anti-US imperialist mood of the people of Indian subcontinent. While military occupation of Afghanistan and extension of that war into Pakistan with collusion of the rulers there, has led to sharp anti-US imperialist sentiments which swept US stooge Musharraf out of power. In Bangladesh, military dictatorship backed by US is facing people’s opposition. In Nepal, the Constituent Assembly elections led to emergence of Maoists as the biggest party, a party which US imperialism brands as terrorist. In India people’s resentment kept the Nuclear Deal dangling until pushed forward in Parliament by a concocted majority. Fear of people’s anger made UPA Govt. stall on clinching Doha round deal on agriculture. India’s ruling classes are seeking strategic ties with US imperialism at a time when US imperialism’s chariot wheels are grounded.

23.       Despite these changes, imperialist drive against third world for markets, raw materials and cheap labour continues. Worsening economic situation of US is leading to intensifying need for loot of third world countries. At the same time workers in US are opposing wage cuts, job losses and against outsourcing which they feel is carrying away their jobs.

24.       In Europe, struggles are on the rise against shifting of industries to cheaper centres and against social security cuts. France witnessed a massive movement against Govt. attempt to increase probation period for jobs. In this movement not only students and young workers participated, but older workers also joined the movement. Ultimately the Govt. was forced to revoke the order. Italy, Germany and other European countries have seen big struggles of workers against attacks on social security.

25.       Currently there is a serious food crisis in the world fuelled by factors like decrease in agricultural production in third world countries and to rising of US and Europe on bio-fuels. This threatens to push 10 crore more people of developing countries below subsistence level of existence. Obviously unorganized workers, landless and small peasants, and specially vulnerable sections like women and children will be worse hit.

26.       ‘The current financial crisis gripping world markets has its immediate roots in the bursting of the housing bubble in the US created by the investment banks which gave out massive credits with virtually no verifications and thereby no repayment system in place. It is actually revealing the underlying economic weakness of the huge US war machine and its drive for hegemony over the world and control over world’s resources and markets.

The crashing of major investment banks in the US is having global ramifications in accordance with the tentacles of these banks in other economies. Over a million jobs have been lost in the US alone. The havens of ‘free market’ economics are fighting to rein in this catastrophe by pumping of public money i.e. public funds-to save the private banks and the system and already three trillion dollars worth have been infused by Govts. of US and Europe. Yet the crisis is worsening. IMF and WB are mighty quiet as TINA is proved baseless, their economic prescriptions to third world countries are falling flat in US itself and centralization through Govt. interventions is now right because it has to save capitalism.

In the entire scenario, what is being exposed is the inherent crisis of capitalism. Accumulated capital is poured to further extract more profits rather than being invested to develop peoples’ basic conditions, and purchasing power. Ruling classes world over are trying to distract from this lesson. It is the lesson which the working class must highlight.

In India the economy faces severe crisis due to flight of foreign funds and the crisis of an export oriented economy as demand dries up in the West which has been our rulers’ panacea for development. India’s working class which was severely hit by the New Economic Policies, will now face further attacks in the course of attempts to prop up the fallout of the crisis.’ Bail out plans are being framed only to defend profits and capitalists,especially MNCs and corporates and to further attacks on the working class.

In view of the above situation the tasks that were enumerated in Eluru Call remain relevant. In addition the following tasks emerge for the India’s working class.

1. Organize. Build struggles against pro-imperialist, anti-worker policies and for implementation of statutory rights.
2. Organize contractual/temporary workers and build struggles for statutory rights and for regularization.
3. Fight against wage freeze and wage reduction, extension of periods of agreement, against various forms of contractualisation and casualisation of regular jobs etc. Build struggles for achieving 90:20 working compliments in the jute and other sectors.Fight for full neutralization of price-rise.
4. Fight for equal wage and equal status for equal work.
5. Fight against attack on Class IV employees in VIth Pay Commission and contractualization of Govt. jobs.
6. Build solidarity struggles in support of the just struggles of the workers and oppose repression unleashed on them.
7. Build solidarity struggles with other sections esp. with peasantry struggling against land acquisition, and stand by these struggles by targeting the MNCs and corporates involved.
8. Build struggles against the entry of MNCs and corporates in the retail sector.
9. Working class must speak out against communal division and caste exploitation and struggle against chauvinist, fundamentalist and casteist forces. Uphold reservation is jobs and education.
10. Working class must support the fullest expressions of democratic rights for people, withdrawal of draconian laws from Kashmir and democratic aspirations of people of Kashmir.

(Adopted in the All India General Council of IFTU held on 24, 25 Nov. 08 in Jalandhar, Punjab)