Protesting against the absolute paralysis of the labour law machinery in Delhi, the connivance of the Delhi Govt. and the Labour Dept. with owners in the denial of even statutory rights and the de-facto wage freeze for this sector, workers of private industrial sectors in Delhi observed a day’s strike on 5th October 2001 on the call of IFTU. Over 10 lakh workers work in this sector.

Earlier, Delhi IFTU Committee had submitted a charter of demands regarding workers in this sector to the CM of NCR of Delhi on 12th March 1999. Agreeing with every point raised, the CM and labour officials promised action, but till date not a single issue has been addressed. On 3rd March 2000, IFTU gave a call for a day long strike on this charter, which was observed in Mayapuri, Okhla Phase I and II and sporadically in Rajasthan Udyog Nagar. The Govt. promptly announced variable DA instalments (two at that time) and forgot the other issues.

Since then, repeated programmes, marches and demonstrations have been held alongside negotiations with the Govt. This time again, since the 3rd March strike, no instalment of the six-monthly variable DA was announced. Seeing the recalcitrant and pro-owner attitude of the Govt., IFTU gave a call for a day-long industrial strike in the private industrial sectors, but in two phases — Mayapuri, Okhla Phase I and II, and Wazirpur on 5th October and Naraina, Kirti Nagar, Okhla Phase III and Rajasthan Udyog Nagar on 12th October.

Extensive propaganda preceded the strike call, beginning with a demonstration at CM office on 21st August and burning of CM’s effigy. Rallies, postering, cycle rallies and corner meetings were held in all areas. Many workers repeatedly called up the IFTU office reminding that rallies must close down their units.

Widespread strike in the four industrial areas on 5th October reflected the growing anger of the workers against the Govt.’s inaction. Since morning, rallies were taken out in all the four industrial areas to enforce the strike. In Okhla Phase-II a rally of over 1000 workers walked from Harikesh Nagar crossing through the area and workers willingly emerged from the gates to join the rally or to go home. At 1:00 P.M. a mass meeting was held at W-T Park, addressed by Com. Animesh (Secretary, Delhi IFTU), Com. Jagdish (Vice President, Delhi IFTU) and others. In Okhla Phase-I a rally of over 1000 workers proceeded through the F and D Blocks closing down the units, despite continual interference and provocation by the police led by SHO of the Okhla Industrial Area. Eventually, seeing the growing number of workers, the police lathi-charged the rally outside D-89 Phase I injuring Com. Mrigank (President, NBS), Com. Munnalal and others. The activists and organized workers regrouped and carried on a rally shutting down the Block and later held a mass meeting at Tekhand Chowk where an effigy of Delhi Govt. was burnt.

In Mayapuri, a large number of owners had closed down factories in view of the strike propaganda. Rallies started from Lajwanti Chowk, passing through Phase I and II, and ended at a mass meeting at Bobby Soap Park at 12:30 P.M. after closing down the area. Over 60% strike was effected. The mass meeting was addressed by Com. Shankar (Secretary, Delhi IFTU), Com. Madan Pal (Vice President, Delhi IFTU) and others.

In Wazirpur Industrial Area the rally began in the morning, was disrupted but re-formed and after closing many units held a mass meeting from 12:30 P.M. where an effigy of the Govt. was burnt. The meeting was addressed by Com. Vikas (General Secretary, Delhi IFTU), Com. Prahlad (Delhi IFTU), Com. Poonam (General Secretary, PMS) and others.

The demands pinpointed by IFTU in a letter to the Govt. on the eve of the strike were:

(a)        Immediate announcement of variable DA six monthly instalments w.e.f. August 2000 (three instalments) with retrospective effect and these should be strictly enforced.

(b)        Immediate comprehensive plan announced and implemented for enforcing the Minimum Wage Act, ESI and PF statutory facilities in this sector to all workers.

(c)        Processing of all cases of mass retrenchment and closure in three months; reopen closed units; ban retrenchments and closures.

(d)        Ban on contract labour, regularization of such workers.

(e)        Roll back NEP in Delhi.

IFTU also pointed out that it was strange that while at the Bangalore session of the AICC, the Congress President asserted that her Govt. would not join the BJP led NDA Govt. in attacks on workers, under her nose in Delhi a Congress Govt. was implementing wage freeze.

Even as the IFTU cadres implemented the 5th October strike, the same evening the Delhi Govt. announced a consolidated variable DA of Rs. 173 (Rs. 105 w.e.f. August 2000, Rs. 55 w.e.f. March 2001 and Rs. 13 only w.e.f. August 2001). This is exactly similar to the reaction of the Govt. to the 3rd March strike — announce variable DA which, in effect, is implemented only for organized sections which can struggle and take it — and ignore the other issues which affect the vast majority. Hence IFTU has decided to proceed with the 12th October phase of strike, while taking up struggles to enforce VDA implementation in those areas which struck work on 5th October.

IFTU Delhi Committee has expressed its deep regret over the passive attitude adopted by the other TU centres towards struggles of the workers of this sector. Five Unions – CITU, AITUC, BMS, INTUC and HMS– are members of the Contract Labour Advisory Board. In repeated meetings the Govt. stalled on the issue of the ban on contract labour, but these unions did not turn to the strength of workers’ struggle to force the issue; nor have they quit the Board or lodged public protest against it. Two weeks prior to the industrial strike by IFTU on 5th October, seven TU centres including CITU, BMS, AITUC etc. met the Govt. Despite promises VDA was not announced and yet these unions did not turn towards struggle of the workers.  IFTU Delhi Committee has decided to carry forward the struggle for the long pending demands.