The joint platform of Central trade union organisations have written on  22nd December  2020 to the Minister for Labour and Employment to conduct a physical meeting for discussion on framing of rules for each of the four codes separately for any fruitful discussions in the matter. (The letter is attached herewith).

They are of the opinion that this kind of exercise, involving more than a score of stakeholders, through one single day video conference, on the draft rules of all the four labour codes, is meant only for the record and would serve no fruitful purpose. They are of the opinion that this exercise is being under taken only to meet the criticism that this Government at centre is violating tripartite consultations, as on the one hand they cancel the winter session of the parliament, while on the other, throwing all precautions of distancing during the Covid pandemic, for the election campaign and their political rallies etc. Hence the undersigned central trade unions will not be a part of such a farce.

         INTUC                     AITUC                    HMS                     CITU                       AIUTUC

          TUCC                     SEWA                      AICCTU                     LPF                    UTUC

After the successful Bharat Bandh on 8^th December called by the Farmers jointly, the Central Government cannot call this a “Punjab question” any more. Invitation by Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah to Farmers’ representatives from Punjab as well as from other states, is an acceptance of this fact. 

The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations are closely following the machinations of the Centre, such as planting alleged NIA reports of instigation by SJF from Canada, alleged letter bearing lakhs of signatures of the Haryana Farmers backing the Agri-laws, offer to amend laws and many other such deceitful diversionary tactics have failed to make any headway against the demand to repeal the three Agri-laws that itself has become a material force.

The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations reiterate their wholehearted support to the ongoing united struggles of the farmers demanding scrapping of draconian Agri-laws, Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 and legislation guaranteeing MSP.

We have once again received letter from the Samyukta Morcha of Kisans for their appreciation of continued support from the Central Trade Union organisations for their justified struggle. They have informed us the next phase of their action programmes with request to extend support.

The Samyukta Morcha of farmers’ organizations has decided the following action programmes;

• From 12 December to block the Delhi- Jaipur National Highway.
• From 12 December to open Toll Plazas throughout the country.
• State/local level actions of the farmers on 14^th December 2020.
• Boycott the Products of Ambani and Adani like Jio, Reliance Malls, Adani Fresh etc.

The Joint Platform of CTUs and Sectoral Federations/Associations call upon the workers, employees and their unions, irrespective of affiliations, to be ever vigilant and extend our active solidarity to the call of Farmers’ Joint Struggle in the coming crucial period.                               

        INTUC                     AITUC                    HMS                     CITU                       AIUTUC
        TUCC                SEWA                      AICCTU                     LPF                    UTUC

And Sectoral Federations/Associations

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions salutes the people of the country for their spontaneous response to the call of countrywide bandh on 8^th December 2020 demanding scrapping of the draconian pro-corporate farm laws and the Electricity Bill 2020.

The bandh call was given by the united platform of peasants’ organisations who have been camping near the borders of the national capital at Delhi since 26-27 November 2020 pressing for outright repeal of the anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national farm laws and the Electricity Bill 2020. The entire trade union movement has supported their struggles from the very beginning, right since the ordinances were promulgated by the Modi government, in all their agitations and mobilisations. Scrapping of the draconian farm laws and Electricity Bill 2020, along with the labour codes, was one of the demands of the trade unions in their countrywide general strike on 26^th November 2020.

The bandh was total, in both the towns and villages, paralysing normal activities in most of the states. Numerous demonstrations by workers, peasants, and other sections of toiling people were held in lakhs of locations in both cities and villages, on the highways and railway tracks throughout the country. Mass scale intimidation, arrests of the demonstrators by Police, particularly in the BJP-ruled states could not deter the people in the least from their determined united action. The bandh reflects the anger and condemnation by the people, of the brazenly anti-people, barbaric and destructive policies of the government. 

CITU demands that the BJP government led by Modi concede the peasants’ demands, which are supported by the entire nation, as is reflected in today’s bandh. CITU demands the government to immediately repeal the three farm laws and withdraw the Electricity Bill 2020.

CITU once again reiterates its continued support to the genuine demands of the peasants and assures them of its total support in all forms, to their struggle to achieve them.

Issued by: 
Tapan Sen
(General Secretary)

The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations reiterate their wholehearted support to the ongoing united struggles of the farmers demanding scrapping of draconian Agri-laws, Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 and legislation guaranteeing MSP.

The Joint Platform takes note with satisfaction that from 27^th November 2020 onwards, workers and employees and their unions have been fully active in holding numerous agitations in solidarity with the ongoing farmers’ struggles, in all the states throughout the country braving arrests and intimidation from many of the state administration/police.

The Joint Platform welcomes the firm resolve and determination of the united platform of Farmers Organisations to intensify the struggles countrywide and extends all support to their call for Bharat Bandh on 8^th December 2020.

The Joint Platform of CTUs and Sectoral Federations/Associations call upon the workers, employees and their unions, irrespective of affiliations, to organize active solidarity to the Farmers’ Organisations’ call for Bharat Bandh on 8^th December, 2020.

        INTUC                     AITUC                    HMS                     CITU                       AIUTUC
          TUCC                SEWA                      AICCTU                     LPF                    UTUC
And Sectoral Federations/Association

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expresses its total support and solidarity to the Janata Curfew/ Bharat Bandh called by the Delhi Chalo Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the joint platform of peasants’ organisations on 8^th December 2020-12-05

The joint platforms of the peasants’ organisations have been demanding repeal of the three Farm Acts, being correctly named ‘Black Acts’ by them and the Electricity Bill, 2020.

Instead of conceding to their demand of the repeal of the Acts, the BJP government, in its discussions with the farmers’ organisations till now, has been offering cosmetic changes in the laws. It is resorting to machinations intended to mislead the common people that the struggle was only localised to Punjab farmers and as its wont, create confusion and division. With peasants from not only Haryana, but also from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc marching to reach the national capital, and peasants on the roads in several other states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha etc, it has become clear that the farmers across the country are part of this struggle against the three Farm Acts and the Electricity Bill 2020.

While strongly condemning the adamant attitude of the Modi led BJP government in refusing to meet the genuine demands of the farmers, CITU reiterates its total support to the demands which impact not only the farmers but also the workers, particularly the huge sections of unorganised sector workers, the food security of the people, only to benefit the big corporates, domestic and foreign. CITU points out that the working class of the country has also raised these demands in its massive country wide general strike on 26^th November, which was supported by all sections of the people including the farmers and agricultural workers across the country. 

CITU appeals to the working class of the country to actively support the Janata Curfew/ Bharat Bandh on 8^th December. It calls upon all its committees to stand in solidarity with the peasants.

The struggle of the peasants is a struggle against mortgaging the interests of our toiling people to facilitate amassing of wealth by a few corporate looters. It is a common struggle of all the toiling people, who feed the country and who produce the wealth of the country, the workers and the peasants. It needs to be fought unitedly by all toiling people.

Issued by:
Tapan Sen
(General Secretary)

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) congratulates the hundreds of millions of workers and peasants across the country for rising as one to protest against the atrocious attacks of the Modi led BJP government, on their, rights, lives and livelihoods and thei anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national policies. Over 25 crore workers, agricultural workers and other sections of toiling people who produce the wealth of the country struck work. They were joined by millions of peasants in the massive protest actions across the country including in remote rural areas.

The atmosphere in several states, including Kerala, West Bengal, Tripura etc resembled a bandh with the transport coming to a standstill and factories, shops, offices and commercial establishments wearing deserted look. In Assam and several other states also there was bandh like situation.

Strike was total in many industrial clusters in the country – in Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi etc.  Most of the workers in Calcutta, Chennai, Tuticorin, Cochin, JNPT, Vizag and Paradip ports were on strike. Coal workers, steel workers, iron ore workers etc including contract workers participated in the strike despite threats from the contractors. Strike was near total in the Bengaluru based public sector and also to a great extent in the PSUs in Hyderabad region. Public and private road transport was seriously affected by the strike in several states like Assam, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh etc. Indian seamen, not only in India, but also those who were on duties in different parts of the world held solidarity actions from wherever they were located.   

The strike was total in the insurance, massive in banks. Central and state government employees participated in the strike in almost all states. Telecom workers joined the strike in large numbers.

Crores of unorganised sector workers – construction workers, head load workers, shop employees, beedi workers, private road transport workers, the traditional sector workers including plantation, coir, workers etc, scheme workers etc participated in the strike. Around 20000 anganwadi employees struck work and courted arrest in Punjab.

All over the country, several thousands of workers, peasants, agricultural workers, youth, women and students participated in the road and rail blockades.  

Unnerved by the massive response of the workers to the general strike on 26^th November, of the response of the peasants to the protests called by the over 250 kisan organisations on 26-27 November, coinciding with the strike and the unprecedented solidarity of these toiling

sections of people, the BJP government at the centre, as well as some state governments resorted to repression. The Delhi police under the government of India did not allow the workers and peasants to gather and arrested many of those protesting in Jantar Mantar, manhandled and arrested P Krishna Prasad, an office bearer of All India Kisan Sabha and Mayukh Biswas, General Secretary of Students Federation of India and many others.  The BJP government in Haryana sealed the borders with Delhi and resorted to midnight raids and arrest hundreds of peasant and trade union leaders. But they could not deter them from marching on and coming to national capital. Simultaneously, multiple numbers of dhanas were held in all the place of police-blockade by thousands of people.   

The BJP goons in Tripura, with the tacit support of the BJP state government and its police, tried to force the shops open, failing which they attacked and ransacked the offices of the trade unions and the Left parties which supported the strike. Around 700 construction workers were arrested across the country including in Odisha and West Bengal. ‘Preventive arrests’ of CITU leaders were made in Krishna and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. Trade union activists and leaders were arrested in several other states including Telangana.

The countrywide general strike on 26^th November also received huge international attention and solidarity. In addition to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) solidarity messages were also sent by scores of its affiliates, and also many other international trade unions fighting against neoliberalism in their own countries.

While congratulating the workers for the massive strike and expressing heartfelt gratitude to the WFTU, the international trade union movement and peasants for their solidarity and support, CITU warns the BJP government that it cannot suppress the workers through vindictive actions or arrests. The workers and peasants will not rest till the disastrous and disruptive policies of the BJP government are reversed. The strike today is only a beginning. Much more intense struggles will be following.

Issued by:
Tapan Sen
General Secretary

CITU is shocked and deeply grieved at the passing away of Comrade Sandeep Ghatak, Joint Secretary of CITU Varanasi district committee, due to Covid-19 pandemic in a hospital at Varanasi on 26 October at the age of 52.

Comrade Sandeep was a SFI functionary in Varanasi Hindu University during his college days. Later, working as a Medical Representative he was an all India activist of FMRAI’s council movement and was also its Varanasi unit secretary in Uttar Pradesh. He was a member of CPI(M) and was also the reporter at Varanasi of ‘Ganashakti’, CPI(M)’s West Bengal party daily newspaper.

He was very active in social work organising blood donation camp, flood relief work and relief among the migrant workers. He was active among the workers in industrial area and during railway factory workers movement in Varanasi.

He left behind his wife, who is also working as a Medical Representative, and his child daughter. As per his wish, his family donated his body in the hospital for medical study and research.

CITU conveys its condolence to Comrade Sandeep’s comrades and his family members.

Tapan Sen
(General Secretary)

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) pays respectful homage to Comrade Narendra Kumar, State Vice President of Uttar Pradesh CITU. He was 75yrs.

Comrade Narendra Kumar was a worker in Syohar Sugar Mill in Bijnor District, UP. He became active in unionising the sugar mill workers in Bijnor and led many struggles. He was the General Secretary of the Sugar Workers’ Federation (CITU) and was the Vice President of state CITU. His death is a great loss to the sugar workers movement and the state CITU.

CITU expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members  and comrades.

Issued by
Tapan Sen
General Secretary

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions expresses serious concern over the change in the base year of consumer Price Index for the industrial workers (CPI-IW) from 2001 to 2016 announced by the BJP Govt through its Labour Minister, arrogantly ignoring all the questions raised and suggestions made by all the trade unions in the country through their joint letter dated 25^th August 2020.

Entire exercise made by the Labour Bureau functioning under Ministry of Labour on this matter has been thoroughly arbitrary, deliberately designed to suppress the real impact of the price rise of essential items for human survival and also to deprive the workers of their entitlement for legitimate DA. The Labour Bureau deliberately ignored the very fact that even in the midst of economic slowdown, the prices of essential items, food items in particular always remain on the rise and did not hesitate to arbitrarily as well as drastically reduce the weight assigned to food items in the standard consumption basket from 46.2% to 39% for the purpose of computation of consumer price index. Minister’s statement justifying this arbitrary reduction as change in the consumption pattern of the working people away from food item is absolutely ridiculous and  cruel inhuman joke; this is done when the average consumption expenditure marked a sharp decline with the rural consumption expenditure falling by more than 9 per cent as per CSO estimate (suppressed by the Modi Govt); and also when in global hunger index, India has been ranked as low at 94 out of 107 nations under survey below Bangaladesh and Pakistan.

Manipulation by the Govt with a dubious intent does not end here. It is also done in the linking factor for converting the numbers of 2016 to 2001 series equivalent to suppress the impact of actual price rise. Two previous changes of base year witnessed a higher linking factor of 4.93 (1960 to 1982 -22 years gap) and 4.63 (1982 to 2001—19 years gap); now a 16 years gap (2001 to 2016) entailed a linking factor of only 2.88 (62% reduction for difference in 3 years in gap.). Can fraud go further ?

Then the choice of base year in 2016 is also designed for manipulation to suppress the impact of price rise. Originally till July 2020, exercise was being done with the idea of 2013-14 as the base year. Changing it to 2016 is an afterthought by the Modi regime as the same year, the notorious demoetisation was undertaken affecting negatively the price-level of the items in standard consumption basket for CPI-IW owing to virtual collapse of the economic operation in the country in the last quarter of 2016. This change is also done with the purpose of suppressing the real impact of price rise.     

The employers’ oranisations have long been demanding upon the Govt to freeze the variable DA payment to workers as a relief to them during the period of economic slowdown. Govt has now responded to that demand of their capitalist bosses through backdoor. The present exercise of changing base year of CPI-IW to 2016  with all its components, some of which are mentioned here, is meant for that at the cost of the working people.

CITU  denounces such anti-worker pro corporate step by the BJP Govt and calls upon the workers and unions to protest and oppose the nefarious design to loot the workers and the people for the benefit of the corporate class.   March forward for making the Countrywide General Strike on 26^th November 2020 a massive success.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expresses its shock and grief at the sudden demise of Comrade Maruti Manpade,  a leader of the peasant movement and the trade union movement in Karnataka. He was the Vice President and former President of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangham (state unit of All India Kisan Sabha) and the President of Karnataka Grampanchayat Workers union (CITU). He died in a hospital in Sholapur where he was under treatment for Covid 19.

He was a mass leader who was in the forefront of many struggles for land rights, demands of sugarcane and other farmers in the state. He helped organising the panchayat workers, MNREGA workers etc. He also helped in organising the anganwadi workers in the initial stages of the union. He was active in the ongoing struggles in the state against the current farm laws  and  labour codes.

He also played a crucial role in the struggle against social oppression in Karnataka and was a part of the Dalit Hakkugala Samiti (Dalit Rights movement). He was actively involved in organising the movement of ‘Devadasi’ women in the state.

CITU conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and comrades and submits homage of respect to the memory and contributions of the departed leader.

Tapan Sen
General Secretary