ML-Class Struggle: JOINT CALL TO THE WORKING CLASS.

JOINTCALLTOTHE WORKING CLASS.

Make the Feb. 20, 21 Strike A Success.

Fight the Pro-Imperialist Economic policies of the UPA government.

The UPA government in the Center is pursuing policies that are essentially in favor of the big corporate houses in the country and imperialist capital has been proved once more with its decision to open the retail sector to foreign direct investment, despite opposition to it. The Prime Minister’s statement that the reform process would go on indicates the further drive towards policies that benefit foreign capital. Equally true is the fact that the earlier UPA and NDA governments followed the same pro-imperialist policies.

The experience in the last twenty one years has amply demonstrated the ill and adverse effects of the pro-imperialist economic policies of the ruling classes of the country. These policies lead to a crisis situation in the agrarian sector resulting in many farmers ending their lives. In the industrial and service sectors of the economy the structure of employment underwent drastic changes with contractualisation and casualisation of the labor force. Temporary labor outnumbers the regular work force in both the public and private sectors. It should be noted that such an employment structure enables the owners to depress wages and to disorganize the workers. Outsourcing is another feature that has emerged in a big way under the new economic policies as a menace of securing reduction in costs of labor. Wage-cut, DA freeze, retrenchments, closures, lay-offs have increased in this period. The social security structure is being subtly dismantled and the right to union has been under severe attack as in the case of Honda and many other units.

Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization et al were hailed by the rulers as paths to the economic development of the country. Growth rates were shown as indicators of this development. Needless to say, this growth was fueled primarily by inflows of foreign capital and that too speculative capital resulting in the creation of bubbles in the share markets. So tied is the Indian economy to the strings of imperialism particularly to US imperialism, that when the bubble in the US burst it had its effects on the Indian economy resulting in its downturn and displacing thousands of workers from jobs, particularly in the export-led industries.

The imperialist countries were trying to salvage their economies from the devastating crisis that enveloped them. In our country, as part of the above policies, the drive of the government has been to secure natural resources and minerals for the big corporate and the multinationals. This has resulted in large scale displacement of the peasantry and adivasis from their lands. Large tracts of land with rich mineral sources have been given off on a platter to corporate houses and MNC’s thus placing people’s assets in their hands.

In the back drop of ever growing job-losses, wage cuts on other benefits, attacks on trade union rights, workers have not taken these attacks lying down. They have put up stiff resistance as in the case of Honda, Graziano, and Maruti etc. The adivasis and peasants have also fought for the protection of their land and in fact their militant struggles assume immense importance in the struggles against the pro-imperialist economic policies of the rulers.

It is an imperative necessity in this situation that all sections of workers should unite in action to resist the continuing onslaught of the ruling classes. This necessity is evident from the act of joint calls being given by trade union centers, including those associated with ruling parties, on some of the burning issues confronting the workers at large.

To defeat the government policies, a sustained struggle will have to build against the neo liberal policies of imperialist globalization. Many central trade unions are still associated with the parties that are implementing these policies. The trade union movement will have to fight not only for immediate economic demands but also against these policies. We therefore give the call to all unions struggling against imperialist globalization to come together to take the movement ahead.

The emergence of unity at the national level under immense working class pressure and rising discontent give space for such a unity on the ground for struggle. This mood has to be forged into unity for struggle and resistance at the local level. We have to initiate joint actions to unite wider sections of the working class, deepen the understanding of class struggle under the imperialist globalization, demonstrate militancy in joint programs and sustain the momentum of the general strike

DEMANDS:

1. Concrete measures to contain price rice and to ensure universal food security with 50 kg cereals along with pulses and cooking oil per family.

2. Concrete measures for employment generation.

3. Strict enforcement of labor laws and action against non-complaint managements.

4. Universal social security for all workers in the unorganized and organized sectors.

5. Stop disinvestment in PSUs and privatization.

6. Stop employment of contract labor in all jobs of a permanent nature. Payment of wages to contract workers on par with the regular workers.

7. Ensure a minimum wage not less than that computed on the basis of the formula put forward at the 15^th session of the Indian labor conference in 1957.

8. Removal of ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus and provident fund rate of interest must be retained at least 12%.

9. Assure pension for all which should not be less than the minimum wage.

10. Compulsory registration of Trade Unions within 45 days.

11. Equal wage for similar work for all workers including women workers.

12. Special measures for protection of women workers especially those required to work till late.

13. Stop encroachment of land natural resources of peasantry, adivasis and Dalits and wanton destruction environment.

Stop all discrimination against Adivasis, Dalits women and minorities. Establish substantial equality.

UNITE TO STRIKE WORK ON FEB.20and21.

BUILD RESISTANCE AGAINST IMPERIALIST GLOBALIZATION.

AIFTU (new) (All India Federation of Trade Unions)(new)

IFTU (India Federation of Trade Unions)

NTUI (New Trade Union Initiative)