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CITU Reiterates Strong Solidarity with Cuban Working Class Against Imperialist conspiracy of destabilisation
CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) expresses its solidarity with the people of Cuba, who, are confronting US conspiracies to create instability inside Cuba. The reactionary forces in Florida, US, supported by some senators and congressmen are trying to deliver notorious plea to the US government to provoke a so called humanitarian intervention in Cuba amounting to illegal onslaught over the sovereignty of the great nation state and outright attack against Socialism.
This past weekend, July 11, there were apparently some orchestrated anti-government protests in Cuba by pro-US elements. Despite that, the Cuban Govt and the Communist Party of Cuba directly reached out to them. And almost simultaneously, following such imperialist-orchestrated eruption, the disturbances were quickly outnumbered by supporters of the Cuban Revolution who went into the streets..
From the moment the Cuban revolutionary government was established following the overthrow of the US backed Batista dictatorship in 1959, the US has done everything it can to engineer continuous onslaught on Cuba for having the guts to choose its own path of Socialism while being only 90 miles from the US coast. From incidents as well known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion to countless attempts to assassinate the late Cuban President Fidel Castro, and from sabotaging food supplies, medical supplies and almost everything through continuing the most crippling more than six-decades long barbarous economic blockade in world history, the US has never relented from its arrogant interference and interventions against the people of Cuba. By blockading food and medicines and related supplies, the US targeted brutally the human living in Cuba ; and yet they are loudly talking about humanitarian rights of Cuban people. Shameless hypocrisy of US imperialism is at its peak. Over the same period, Cuba has never once threatened the US.
Fighting every moment with US imperialistic and barbarous attacks, Cuban people and working class have been defending their motherland and the Socialist system; during the pandemic, Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade, sponsored by the government of Cuba, has distinguished itself as a true leader in both the global North and South, offering emergency assistance. Twenty-three countries in Europe, Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Latin America, and the Caribbean requested help amidst this global crisis, and more than 1,500 Cuban health professionals–doctors, specialists, and nurses–have answered the call. Braving six decades long US blockade, Cuba has developed its own vaccines on Covid. The Cuban people and the working class are also determined to resist all US sponsored destabilisation attempts.
CITU condemns actions of destabilisation and provocation that the US promotes, cynically instrumentalising the harmful consequences of the blockade for which they are responsible. CITU salutes the Cuban people and its leaders in their continuous united struggle against the crippling US embargo.
CITU calls upon the working class of India irrespective of affiliations to raise its powerful voice of protest against the Imperialist conspiracy and organise action in solidarity with the Cuban people and Cuban working class in their historic struggle to defend great Cuban revolution.
Issued by
(TAPAN SEN )
General Secretary
CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS CONDEMN THE DRACONIAN ESSENTIAL DEFENCE SERVICES ORDINANCE 2021 PROMULGATED BY THE MODI GOVERNMENT EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY SUPPORT TO THE STRUGGLE OF DEFENCE CIVILIANS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST
Against the anti-national decision to splinter the pioneer Defence Industry viz the 220 years old Indian Ordnance Factories under the Ministry of Defence into 7 non viable corporations and then to privatise the same taken by the Modi Government , the five Federations of Defence Civilian Employees since all the efforts taken by them to withdraw the decision taken in violation of all the previous agreements and settlements failed they had decided to proceed with an indefinite strike which was to commence from 26-7-2021 demanding to withdraw the Government decision in the interest of National security, Defence preparedness and the service life of 76,000 employees. The Government has ignored the alternative / robust proposals given by the Federations for continuing the Ordnance Factories with the Government and putting pressure on the CLC to windup the conciliation proceedings in the absence of the 3 major recognised Federations on 15-6-2021 and went ahead and took decision on 16-6-2021 to slice the Ordnance Factories into 7 pieces. It is now more than 2 weeks after the CLC submitted the failure report to the Government. The Government has not bothered even to refer the disputes raised by the Federations for adjudication.
The Government in the most cowardly manner, instead of commencing dialogue with the Federations for a negotiated settlement has acted in a draconian and brutal manner by deployment of state power against its own employees. We condemn the arrogance and highhandedness of the Government at centre The EDSO promulgated by the President of India prohibits strikes in essential Defence services which includes Defence production, repair and maintenance of products connected with Defence. The strike in Defence is declared as illegal and includes draconian provisions like dismissal from service without even an inquiry, arrest and imprisonment for a term which may be extended to one year or with fine which may extend to 10,000 Rupees or with both. In the name of instigation of strike any person shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years or with fine which may extend to 15,000 Rupees or with both.
The most draconian law which post independence has witnessed in this country. The Central Trade Unions terms this EDSO as draconian, brutal, retrograde, undemocratic anti worker and is not acceptable to the working class of this country. The Central Trade Unions urges upon the Government of India to immediately withdraw its decision since it takes away the legal rights of an employee to participate in a strike under the Industrial Dispute Act 1947 after following all the procedures laid down in the Act. The five federations in the Defence sector met on first july in the background of new development and adopted resolution and decided to observe 8th july 2021, the day they were to serve strike notice, as Nationwide protest day as Black Day. They have also decided to legal course including to approach ILO.
The Central Trade Unions call upon the entire working class of the country to stand up and protest against this unprecedented action of the Modi Government and leaving to the mercy of the Government the status of the 76,000 employees of the 41 Ordnance Factories who were recruited as Defence Civilian Employees / Central Government Employees under Article 309 of the Constitution of India. The joint platform of Central Trade Unions stands in solidarity with the Defence workers and extends support to their action programmes to save the sensitive defence industry and its work force in the national interest.
INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC
TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC
CITU DENOUNCES PROMULGATION OF ORDINANCE TO CURB UNITED STRUGGLE OF CIVILIAN DEFENCE PRODUCTION WORKERS AGAINST PRIVATISATION OF ORDNANCE FACTORIES THROUGH CORPORATISATION
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions denounces the hasty promulgation of Ordinance by the Central Govt to curb the united struggle of the Defence Production Employees and Workers against the move for privatization of Ordnance Factories network through corporatization in several pieces and dismantling the Ordnance Factories Board.
Very recently, the BJP Govt at the centre has taken a destructive decision to corporatize 44 Ordnance Factories operating under Ordnance Factories Board to pave the way for their ultimate privatization. All the Federations of the Defence Production Employees have long been vehemently opposing such destructive move of the Govt through numerous united agitations and this recent decision of the Govt to corporatize the Ordnance Factories network is in total violation of the assurance given to the united platform of Defence Employees Federations by the Govt in October 2020.
The United Platform of Defence Employees Federations have already decided to oppose said destructive decision of the Govt and resolved to go in for indefinite strike from 26-07-2021 in order to defend and save the country’s defence production network in greater interest of the nation.
The promulgation of Essential Defence Services Ordinance 2021 on 30th June 2021 is the dubious ploy to pre-empt and curb the united struggle of the defence production workers in stout defence of national interests and is totally condemnable.
CITU along with the entire trade union movement in the country extends full support to the united struggles of the Defence Production workers and their federations and urge upon the Govt to withdraw the Ordinance and also refrain from the destructive move of corporatization of Ordnance Factories.
Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary
CONGRATULATIONS AND SALUTE THE STRUGGLING STEEL WORKERS FOR HEROIC UNITED STRIKE ACTION
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and Steel Workers’ Federation of India (SWFI) congratulate and salute the steel workers of Public Sector Steel Industry for the massive and magnificent united strike action against the arrogance and humiliating stance of the management and the concerned Ministry towards legitimate rights and demands of the workers.
The workers of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant have staged massive strike on 29th June and the workers of plants, mines and establishment of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) staged almost complete strike on 30th June, as decided by all the unions of the public sector steel industry under SAIL and RINL. Visakhapatnam to press for their firm demands for a respectable wage revision for both permanent and contract workers without any conditionalities. Among more than 1.5 lakh workers including the contract workers and project workers spread over in all the steel plants, mines and establishments under SAIL and RINL the response to strike action was massive ranging from 70 per cent to 95% in various steel plants, mines and establishments.
Owing to arrogance and brazenly anti-worker approach of the Govt and the management, wage revision was delayed for more than four and half years. And when bipartite talks at the level of National Joint Committee for Steel (NJCS) commenced after 52 months, management started with all negative conditionalities of cut on wages and benefits instead of wage increase. Despite that all the unions exercised tremendous patience and participated in the negotiations with the management. But owing to continuity of same negative arrogance of the management for more than six months (in various meetings of NJCS), ultimately all the unions in public sector steel industry collectively decided to go in for strike action on 30th June (29th June in Vizag).
It is the same steel workers, both regular and contract workers have still kept the steel plants/mines running, risking their lives in the midst of pandemic/lockdown. More than 600 workers and officers, all on duty, have lost their lives due to Covid and the number crossed 1000, if the family members are taken in to account. Despite that, management did not show the courtesy even to respond, either way, to the repeated demands of the unions for compensation and compassionate employment. Such is the arrogance of the management.
The historical and heroic strike by the steel workers, despite various provocations by the management, demonstrated that workers cannot be taken for granted. This has become the united strike action by the entire steel workers fraternity to challenge the authoritarian and unilateral stance of the management and the Govt.
CITU appeals to all the unions and workers to strengthen this unity further to fight for a respectable wage settlement for both regular and contract workers without any negative preconditions and also against the onslaught of privatization, RMD dismantling and attack on workers’ rights emanating from the destructive policies of Govt. We will fight unitedly and we will win.
Tapan Sen
President SWFI
General Secretary CITU
BJP Government’s Stimulus Package--Another Fraud on People
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions notes with dismay that the Rs 6.28 lakh crore so called stimulus package announced by the finance minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman day yesterday is nothing but yet another gimmick to hoodwink the people. The measures announced under this would neither provide the much needed relief to the crores of people whose livelihoods have been devastated by the second wave of Covid and the related lockdowns and curfews imposed in different states; nor can the package help in reviving the economy. Much like the ‘Atmanirbhar’ package announced by this BJP government last year, during the first wave of Covid 19, this too is also an exercise in deception
The focus of the package is mostly limited to extending loan guarantees and concessional credit. It provides nothing to offer to the around 2.2 crores workers who have lost their jobs and incomes during April-May 2021 during the second wave of the pandemic. It has nothing to provide succour to the 23 crore people, mostly unorganised sector workers who have been pushed to below the minimum wage poverty line during the same period. Many of the crores of workers who lost their jobs and incomes during the first wave have not been able to find work even to this day. A large part of them comprise women workers. This package has nothing for them.
The problem that the economy is facing today is lack of demand. It is futile to think that extending loan guarantees or cheap loans would help revive the economy in conditions where there is no demand. What needs to be done today, and what the CITU and all other trade unions have been demanding since last year, is to put money into the pockets of the people to generate demand. The joint trade union platform, eminent economists and the Left parties have been demanding cash transfer of Rs 7500 to the non income tax paying families. But this BJP government, committed to fiscal obscurantism, has been obstinately refusing to do that.
CITU again reiterates its demand of cash transfer of Rs 7500 per month for six months for all non income tax paying families to generate demand that would trigger supply and revive the economy.
Issued by
( Tapan Sen )
General Secretary
CITU DENOUNCES DESTRUCTIVE DECISION OF THE BJP GOVT TO CORPORATISE THE ORDNANCE FACTORIES TO FACILITATE ITS PHASED PRIVATISATION
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions vehemently condemns the destructive decision of the BJP Govt at the centre to corporatise the Ordnance Factories functioning under defence ministry. Some 44 Ordnance Factories operating under Ordnance Factories Board under Ministry of Defence will be split in seven pieces and seven corporations will be formed under Companies Act.
The Ordnance Factories network along with a few other defence PSUs are contributing most efficiently to country’s defence preparedness besides successfully meeting various basic necessities of quality gears, ammunitions, small arms, dresses, vehicles and various other instruments and equipments for use by our Jawans posted and working under extremely adverse and inclement weathers etc. More than seventy five percent requirements of our defence forces are being successfully and timely produced and supplied by our Ordnance Factories with incomparable efficiency and assured quality. Country’s Ordnance Factories network is an unquestionable example of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, the phrase being so much noisily touted by the Modi Govt, in the respective areas of production and services. There is absolutely no valid rationale for such drastic alteration of the existing structure of the Ordnance Factories network.
The only motivation behind such destructive corporatisation drive is to facilitate phased privatisation of the Ordnance Factories on which the Govt minced no words in its various policy announcements. And in this case, it is not merely privatisation; it is going to be privatisation with domination of foreign corporates through multi-pronged route. On previous occasions also effort had been made by the successive Govts to outsource a part of Ordnance factories products to private sector but that finally ended in failure owing to incapacity of the Indian private players to produce and supply quality product. And now in the renewed drive of privatisation through corporatisation route, entry of foreign companies in the field can no way be ruled out since Govt policy, through its policy statements, already envisages foreign participation in defence production.
The Defence workers unions and federations have been unitedly opposing such destructive design of the Govt through consistent agitations and movement. And present move for corporatisation of Ordnance Factories, that too being pushed through in the midst of 2nd wave of pandemic, is in gross violation of the understanding and assurances given by the Govt to the united platform of Defence workers’ federations in the face of their decision to go in for indefinite strike from 12th October 2020.
CITU congratulates the united platform of Defence Workers Federations for their prompt response to such destructive design of the Govt through countrywide “burning of effigy agitation” on 19th June 2021 as a prelude to further course of united action to be decided by the United Platform shortly. CITU extends support to the agitation of United Platform of Defence Federations on 19th June and calls upon the trade unions and workers stand in solidarity with Defence workers fighting in defence of national interests.
CITU reiterate its condemnation to the destructive move of corporatisation of Ordnance Factories and the evil design of privatisation behind the same and extends all support to the forthcoming struggles of the Defence workers to resist it in national interest. Entire working class movement will resolutely stand by the struggling Defence workers against privatisation through corporatisation route.
Tapan Sen
General Secretary
The CTUs to observe June 26th across the Nation In solidarity with Samyukta Kisan Morcha as a "Save Agriculture-Save Democracy" Day
On 14th June, 2021, the Farmers' agitation, led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha completed 200 days of continuous protest on and occupation of main highways leading into national capital Delhi, for their demands to repeal three farm laws, taking back the Electricity (Amendment) Ordnance, 2021 and legal guarantee for the MSP. They have not only faced bone-chilling cold and winter, destructive storms, scorching summer and now, the onset of rains, have sacrificed almost 500 comrades, but mainly, the out-and-out pro-corporate Central Government that is bent on pushing these laws as well as the four hated labour codes.
June 26th marks the completion of seven month long struggle. There are several struggles, including this farmers' agitation, against the undeclared emergency and authoritarian BJP regime that the country is experiencing today. Even those inhabiting the small island of Lakshadweep are up against these authoritarian ways of the BJP, what to talk of the complete mess they have made in countering the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is worth noting that June 26th is also the death anniversary of the legendary farmer leader Swami Sahajanand Saraswati. The protests on June 26th will include sit-ins at Raj Bhavans in various states in addition to district/tehsil level protests all over India.
The CTUs appeal to all their members to reach out to all the sections of people to join hands in this nation-wide action on 26th June.
We, the CTUs demand that
- Four labour codes, the three farm laws, the Electricity (Amendment) Ordnance, 2021 be repealed;
- Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmer produce be legally guaranteed;
- Universal free vaccination within a specific time frame;
- 10 kg free food grains per person per month to all needy and Rs.7500/-pm to every non income tax paying family every month;
- Take back the policy of privatization of Public Sector enterprises and Government Departments;
- The Govt. and PSU employees working day and night in the COVID-19 like Railway and Road transport ,Coal, Defence, SAIL, BHEL, Telecom and Postal service's, Banks and Insurance, Electricity, Water, Education and Health services, EPFO, Port & Dock etc be treated as frontline staff and compensate accordingly;
- Rs 50 lakh insurance to all frontline workers including ASHA, Anganwadi employees, sanitation workers; adequate compensation to the families of the workers who died due to Covid 19.
INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC
TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC
Homage to Comrade Mythily Shivaraman
Centre of Indian Trade Unions(CITU) pay respectful homage to Comrade Mythily Shivaraman, one of the leading figures in the early years of CITU in Tamilnadu, a revered leader of the women’s movement in India, a committed Marxist who passed away today, 30 May 2021 in Chennai at the age of 81. She had Alzheimer’s for the last ten years and succumbed to Covid.
Joining the left movement influenced by the anti Vietnam War movement Mythily has lead many struggles of the marginalized sections in Tamil Nadu. She has organized the workers, especially the women workers on the question of minimum and equal wages, sexual harassment of women etc. She has led many unions of CITU including metal box, union carbide, garments, pharmaceuticals and quarry workers unions in the 70s.
She was one of the leading figures of the struggle for justice for the dalit agricultural workers who were brutally massacred for raising their voice for wages, in Keezhvenmanai in 1968. She has also led the struggle of the victims of the infamous ‘Vachathi’ incident where the tribals of an entire village were assaulted and raped.
Mythily was one of the founders of AIDWA in Tamil Nadu and was its national vice President. She had authored many papers and books on issues and struggles of the oppressed sections, especially that of women.
A charismatic person with unusual courage, Mythily had influenced many lives and organized various sections of the people. Mythily will be remembered as one of the tallest women leaders our country. With the passing away of Mythily, both the trade union movement as well as the women’s movement suffers irreparable loss.
CITU expresses its respectful homage to Mythily and joins comrades Karunakaran, her husband and Kalpana her daughter and other family members in their hour of loss and grief.
Issued by
(Tapan Sen)
General Secretary
CITU Strongly Condemns Israeli Aggression on Palestine
CITU expresses severe shock and deep indignation at the despicable warlike crime committed by Israeli Government by bombarding residential buildings and killing Palestinian people in their (Israel) illegal and inhuman pursuit to capture East Jerusalem with military force.
On 8th May, the last Friday of Ramzan, when Palestinian people were offering mass prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem, which is the third holiest shrine for Muslims, Israeli forces attacked the mass gathering and fatally injured around 300 Palestinians. This ghastly attack was the cruel continuation of forcible eviction of Palestinian residents from the neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah and Siwan.
Further escalating the barbarian attack, on 11th May the Israeli military resorted to air strikes targeting number of high-rise apartment towers and killed 53 Palestine citizens including 14 children and 2 women and hundreds of people suffered injuries in the southern city of Ashkelon. This attack followed heavy deployment of Israeli troops in the Gaza border signaling more deadly attacks.
The latest is the 15th May Israeli airstrikes which completely destroyed a high-rise building in Gaza city. Apart from loss of many lives, the major media centres housed in the building – Associated Press Bureau, Al-Jazeera and more – have been destroyed. Further, as per reports, a fleet of 160 warplanes bombarded for 40 minutes causing many causalities.
Israel is intensifying deployment of ground forces suggesting war scale invasion of Gaza by imperialist supported Netanyahu Government. It is worth noting that having been rejected by the people in the recent rounds of elections in Israel, in order to the hide his failure Netanyhu has launched such military action. Moreover as per media reports, street violence has erupted in many mixed populated localities (Jews and Arabs in Israel) implying danger of civil war. Sadly, this year Eid celebration for Palestine people has been suppressed by horror and mourning erupting from the inhuman cruelty of Israeli Government.
CITU voices its strongest protest against the inhuman military barbarity of the despotic Netanyahu Government. CITU reiterates the non-negotiable right of the Palestine people for a full-fledged independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its national capital.
CITU appeals to fellow country-men and the entire trade union fraternity to rise to the occasion and extend solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemn Israeli Government for the war crime.
Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary
Homage to Comrade Ranjana Nirula
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expresses heartfelt grief at the demise of comrade Ranjana Nirula, working committee member and former Treasurer of CITU. She was the Convenor of All India Coordination Committee of ASHA workers (CITU). She passed away yesterday, 10 May 2021 at 11pm. She has been unwell for few months with Crohn’s disease and was under treatment. She was infected with Covid 19 and was hospitalized on 27 April 2021. She was 75 years.
Ranjana Nirula was born in 1945 in Delhi in an aristocratic Punjabi family. Her father was a doctor in the UN. She went for her studies in USA where she came close to the left movement during the Vietnam War and was active in Anti Vietnam War Movement. She came back to India in early seventies and joined the left movement here. She became CITU whole timer in 1978 and was Treasurer of Delhi State CITU. She stayed in working class colonies and worked among the factory workers in South Delhi and also in Faridabad.
She was one of the founders of the coordination committee of working women (CITU) in Delhi in 1979. She was also one of the founders of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) in Delhi and was a member of the Central Executive Committee of AIDWA. She was also a member of Delhi State Committee of CPI (M).
A great humanist, she had specialization in teaching of children with special needs and served as a teacher for them for a short period.
Ranjana joined the CITU headquarters in 1998. She became the Working Editor of “The Voice of the Working Woman”, the journal of CITU for women workers which have been published since 1980. From 1979, she was a part of Co ordination Committee of Working Women and was also associated with Beedi Workers. When the CITU formed the All India Coordination Committee of ASHA worker (CITU), in 2009, she became its Convenor, and was continuing till date. Ranjana became the first ever woman treasurer of CITU, in 2010 in the 13th Conference of CITU, a position which she held till 2017. At present she was a member of the Working Committee of CITU.
A staunch advocate of women’ equal rights, a fearless critique of communal fascistic forces, com Ranjana was a very affectionate and caring leader who was particular in cadre development. Her departure is a great loss to the trade union movement in India in general and the CITU centre in particular.
CITU pays its respectful homage, dips its flag in memory of the departed leader and conveys heartfelt condolences to her bereaved family.
Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary