Editorial February 2012

 General Strike of 28^th February 2012

 

On 28^th Feb. 2012, country will witness ever largest  united general strike of Indian working class in its history.  All the eleven central trade unions viz CITU, BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, AICCTU, AIUTUC, UTUC, TUCC, LPF, SEWA and several public sector organizations including employees of Banks, insurance, postal, telecom, state government employees, teachers, central Government employees will jointly struck work against the retrograde liberalization and economical policies of the Government attacking the service conditions, pension and social security of the workers and employees.  Along with the general demands of the working class to scrap PFRDA bill, stop down sizing, fill up all vacancies, remove restriction on compassionate appointment, settle pay commission and MACP anomalies,  implement all Arbitration Awards, they also raise their anger against the incessant price rise, unemployment, attacks on labour rights, lack of social security benefit like pension for the unorganized workers, institutionalized corruption, privatization and contractorisation of works of permanent nature etc which are of much  importance to the peasants and ordinary citizens of the country.

The neo liberal economical policies adopted by the Governments from 1991 have benefited only 1 to 2% of the richest in the country, marginalizing the workers, peasants, agriculturist etc.  The countries world over where these policies are adopted is in deep economical crisis and under serious agitations and strikes by workers and unemployed.  The year 2011 witnessed 7 national strikes in Grece, mammoth public sector employees strike attended by 20 lakhs in the great britain, many strikes of employees and railway workers in France, ‘Wall Street’ agitations in the United States of America and many in other parts of the globe.

Left and pro labour organizations of this country also fought innumerable fights against these   policies which adversely affected the rights and lively hood of the workers, from its beginning. Though these fights could not stall the policies, was able to brake its speed in which it could have affected the citizens.  In many sectors like insurance, railways and ‘navaratna’ public sector units these fights could stall its implementation for long time.  The second phase of the liberalization policies which the UPA I government planned to implement also were stalled effectively as the left parties were supporting that Government from outside, without which UPA I was not having majority.

Now the Government is planning actively to implement second generation reforms through introduction of PFRDA bill, allowing Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector, amendments in banking, insurance sector etc.  Many of these policies could also be stalled for the time being due to the interventions of political parties in the Parliament.

When the whole country is preparing for a historic strike, the railway employees are in isolation.  The Indian Railway trade unions are skulking from its responsibility of protecting the rights of its employees and joining with the vast majority of common public for the common cause they raise, with simply extending solidarity.  The participation of the Railway employees in the strike would have made the nation stand still and pressured the Government to scrap all draconian policies.  It is responsibility of every railway employees to mount pressure on the recognized trade union leaders to change their stand.

These policies of the Government under the dictates of the world bank, IMF and global multinational capitalist giants cannot be totally defeated unless the present joint strikes are further strengthened by total participation including of railway employees.  Let us support solidly and campaign among workers and general public for the success of general strike so as to compel the government to change its anti working class, anti poor policies.

 MM Roly,

On behalf of Editorial Board.