Programs :

XIV NATIONAL CONFERENCE : A GRAND SUCCESS

The 14th National Conference of AISGEF was held in Panchayat Bhavan, Hisar, Haryana from 15 to 18 December, 2011. For the purpose of this august conference, the venue of the Conference was named after the departed leader Trade Union Leader of fame, Com. M.K. Pandhe, while the main gate to the auditorium was named after another eminent departed trade union leader M.R. Appan. Delegates and observers from all over India with diverse language, religion and culture made the Conference hall a real epitome of India.

On 15.12.2011, in the beginning of the conference, R.G. Karnik hoisted the Red-flag and thereafter, the national leaders, guests, delegates and observers paid floral tributes at the martyrs’ column. Then, a colourful procession of the Delegates and Observers and other employees was taken out from the Conference venue to the Red Square Market where the Open Session was held with large participation. Members of various organisations viz. SFI, DYFI, AIDWA, CITU, STFI, AIIEA and BEFI greeted the procession en-route with the slogans of unity and solidarity. Thousands of employees, workers and members of mass organisations welcomed the delegates in a well decorated pandal. A cultural team from Rohtak presented revolutionary songs.

R.G.Karnik, Chairman, AISGEF presided over the open session. R.C. Jagga, Assistant General Secretary AISGEF conducted the proceedings. Phool Singh Sheokand, the founder President of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana and Chairperson of the Reception Committee welcomed the delegates and guests from all over country who attended the Conference.

Tapan Sen, Member of Parliament and General Secretary CITU inaugurated the Conference. In his inaugural address, he called upon the working class to unitedly launch relentless struggles against the policies of the UPA Government which is dipped upto neck in loot and corruption, besides paving way for widening of income inequalities, spiraling price rise, formidable growth of unemployment. He insisted to launch struggles to ensure a decent labour conditions and fair livelihood for every citizen of India. He supported a strong Lokpal Bill and enactment conferring full trade union rights to the working class in the country. He exposed the motive of the Government to divert the savings of the working class to the speculative share market for the benefit of the private fund managers through the obnoxious PFRDA Bill and demanded the withdrawal of the same to safeguard the interest of the employees. Expressing his firm hope that the AISGEF conference would resolve to strengthen the unity of working class to organise relentless struggles against neo-liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, he declared the commencement of the Conference.

Dr. D.R. Chaudhary, former Chairman Haryana Public Service Commision, Jagmati Sangwan, Working President, AIDWA, Pradeep Biswas, General Secretary BEFI, Anil Bhatnagar, Zonal Secretary L.I.C. and Surender Malik, General Secretary CITU, Haryana addressed the open session greeting the Conference.

AISGEF leaders R.G. Karnik, Chairman, Sukomal Sen, Senior Vice-chairman and R. Muthusundaram, General Secretary also addressed the session. Former leaders of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Banwari Lal Bishnoi, Master Sher Singh, Poonam Chand Ratti, SKS President Dharambir Phogat, General Secretary Subhash Lamba, SFI General Secretary Vinod Deswal, DYFI General Secretary Sandeep, Janwadi Mahila Samiti President Shakuntla Jakhar, former MLA and Kisan Sabha General Secretary Harpal, DYFI State President Dinesh Siwach and Rajender Sura, Chairperson Hisar Zilla Parishad were among the important personalities in class and mass movement and eminent citizens of the state who were present in the open session.

Delegate Session

The delegate session began in the highly decorated Conference pandal. Afternoon session began with the constitution of different committees for conducting the conference. Presidium consisting of R.G. Karnik, Sukomal Sen, Lallan Pandey, U.D. Narsimhaiya, L.N. Kailashia, M. Shahjahan, V.Gopal Reddy, K. Swamy Goud, Ved Prakash Sharma and Bhabesh Deka, Steering Committee consisting of R. Muthusundaram, General Secretary, R.C. Jagga, Smarajit Roy Choudhury, Assistant General Secretaries and all other office bearers, Minutes committee consisting of R. Mukherjee, B.S. Sinha, K. Liyaqat Ali, Jiwan Singh, M.P. Singh and R. Srinivasan, Head-Quarters Secretary and a Credential committee consisting of Ashok Thool, Secretary, Sameer Bhattacharya, Srinivasan, K.R. Rajan and Wazir Singh were formed.

In the delegate session, 1,364 delegates and observers from 20 states attended the Conference including 196 women attendees.

At the beginning, condolence resolutions were moved by Smarajit Roy Choudhury, Assistant General Secretary and R. Muthusundaram, General Secretary. Two minutes silence was observed by the entire house. Then, the General Secretary presented a detailed report depicting present international and national scenario and analytical note on the struggles world wide and the activities of the Federation since the last Conference. In his report he reiterated that the existing exploitative Capitalist System should be extricated and an alternative egalitarian and exploitation-free Socialist system is to be installed by the resolute and relentless struggles of the Working Class to give a viable solution to the miseries of the working class.

Discussion on General Secretary’s Report

On the report of the General Secretary, forty two delegates including six women delegates participated in the discussion on 16 and 17 December. Almost all the speakers participating in the discussion recorded that the report was comprehensive and appreciated and supported it. They also gave valuable suggestions on strengthening the movement and organisation, expressing their concern over the prevailing precarious conditions of the working class and the inevitability of the united struggles of the working class to alleviate the sufferings of the workers in particular and the common people in general. A few delegates referred to the international scenario after the set-back of socialism in Russia and subsequent imperialist offensives. On the whole, the standard of discussion, held by the delegates, was positive.

Special Women’s Session

A Special Women’s Session was held as a part of the 14th National Conference on 17 December 2011. Asha Kalra presented the Approach Paper and the proceedings were conducted by a presidium consisting of Sabita, S. Tamil Selvi, Chabbi Ghatta Haldar, Ratna Sarkar, Pratima Sonare and Geetha Gopal.Jagmati Sangwan, Vice President of All India Democratic Women’s Association inaugurated the Session and delivered the keynote address. She emphasised the need for a change in the social scenario and condemned the discrimination on gender basis. 'Women are most deprived', she asserted. Crimes against women inside the family and outside are increasing despite development and modern education. She cited many real life experiences with particular reference to Haryana regarding cruelty and barbarism by Khap Panchayats, dowry deaths, rape, eve-teasing and problems at the work places. She called upon the AISGEF and employees to come forward for creating favourable environment for the women employees to actively participate in Trade-Union and Social Activities. She reiterated that 33% reservation for women in the Parliament and Assemblies be ensured by proper enactment in the Parliament without any further delay. Asha Kalra briefly summed up the deliberations.

Resolutions Passed

The Conference passed 18 resolutions on current and important issues. These resolutions were on price rise, against privatisation of pension scheme, anti-people industrial and economic policies of the Central and State Governments, making the administration more people oriented and fighting corruption, on neo-liberal globalisation, collection of organisational fund, right to strike and against use of anti-employee regulations, against privatisation of banking and insurance sectors, on victimization, abolition of posts, contractual & work-charged employees and withdrawal of economic and social security benefits, against price hike of petroleum products and other essential commodities, on public distribution system, on eradication of illiteracy and education to all, representation in tripartite Indian Labour Conference, solidarity with the workers and people fighting against imperialist aggressions, national integration and against communal, caste, identity issues and separatist violence and Repealing of Govt. servants’ conduct rules.

Besides those, one Policy and programme resolution exposing the anti people policies of the Government and giving a clarion call for mass actions to realize the charter of demands of the Federation and an exclusive resolution for the successful observance of the Country-wide general strike on 28 February 2012 called by All Central trade unions & National Federations were moved by Sukomal Sen, Sr. Vice Chairman and passed unanimously with thunderous slogans from the entire house.

Summing Up by the General Secretary

Before the summing up, Sukomal Sen, Sr. Vice Chairman rose to explain and analyse the significance of some important developments in the international situation, like “Occupy Wall Street” movement, recent election to the Russian Parliament where Communist party has increased their Parliamentary Membership by 2½ folds and huge mass struggles against rigging of election by Putin regime and as widely reported in the media.

In summing up the discussions of the delegates, R. Muthusundaram General Secretary put it on record that the level of consciousness and the content of the deliberations were much improved. He appreciated that the analytical deliberations of the delegates on the National and International issues. Apart from explaining the points raised in the discussions by the delegates he touched upon the various aspects like the role of the Corporate Media, the havoc of black-money, crumbling of health and education care, the carnage unleashed by the extremist forces, etc., he reiterated the unification of the employees, the democratic functioning of the affiliated organisations and educating and organising the employees on class basis and to launch united, militant and relentless struggles to tackle the attacks unleashed by the Government’s policies. He stressed the need for the improvement in enrolling considerable number of subscribers to “Employees Forum”, the monthly organ of the federation from all over the country in general and in the Hindi speaking states in particular. While concluding, he appealed that the employees should come forward to launch offensive struggles against the causes of retrograde and reactionary policies of the Government, instead of the defensive struggles against the effects of the Government Policies.

After his summing up, the General Secretary’s Report was unanimously adopted with thunderous applause and standing ovation.

Proposals for amendment of the Constitution of AISGEF and election of office bearers for the next term was moved by the Senior Vice-Chairman, Sukomal Sen. He, in his speech, elaborated the situation prevailing at the international and national level, emphasized the need for building up all in unity and urged upon the leaders/workers in the house to unleash sharp, protracted and united struggles in general and make the 28 February, 2012 countrywide one-day General Strike, a challenging success in particular.

Cultural Programmes

On every day of the Conference, in the evening hours Cultural Programmes were organised. Cultural Programmes were presented by the teams of Jan Natya Manch, Rohtak and Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samity on 15 and 16 December 2011. On 17 Dec. 2011 a team of Jan Natya Manch, Delhi played two street plays – one against price rise and strengthening of PDS and another on unorganised sector. The programmes were very interesting and educative. In addition to this, delegates from different States presented their cultural programmes.

Exhibition

Cultural and Exhibition team prepared and arranged an excellent exhibition in the Silver Jubilee Hall of Panchayat Bhawan on 14 and 15 December for delegates and shifted it to Krantiman Park on 16 and 17 December for common people. There were very rich collections on 1857 Freedom struggle, History of Haryana and Hisar, History of employees’ movement and the activities of Sarv Karamchari Sangh and All India State Government Employees’ Federation. Delegates appreciated the exhibition very much.

Concluding Session

On 18 December, the 4th and last day of the Conference the Credential Committee’s report was placed. Thereafter, the following Office-Bearers for the next term of three years as proposed by Sukomal Sen, Sr. Vice-Chairman were unanimously elected.

I	Chairman	:	R.G. Karnik
II	Honorary President	:	Ajoy Mukhopadhyay
III	Sr.Vice Chairman	:	Sukomal Sen
IV	Vice Chairmen	1	Lallan Pandey (U.P.)
		2	V. Gopal Reddy (A.P.)
		3	K. Swamy Goud (Telangana)
		4	M. Shahjahan (Kerala)
		5	P.H.M. Ismail (Kerala)
		6	R.Tamil Selvi (T.N.)
		7	N.Chandrakar (Chhatisgarh)
		8	L.N.Kailashia (M.P.)
		9	Ved Prakash Sharma (Punjab)
		10	Smarajit Roy Chaudhury (W.B.)
		11	Sultan Singh Ola (Rajasthan)
		12	Kept Vacant.
V	General Secretary	:	R. Muthusundaram
VI	Assistant General Secretaries	1	Subhas Lamba (Haryana)
		2	A. Sree Kumar (Kerala)
VII	Secretaries	1	Manjul Kumar Das (Bihar)
		2	Nirmal Das (Odisha)
		3	Sunil Joshi (Maharashtra Conf.)
		4	Ashok Thool (Maharashtra Z.P.)
		5	Janardhan Reddy (A.P. PSU)
		6	Ramadhar Sharma (Jharkhand)
		7	Md. Maqbool (J & K)
		8	Bhabesh Deka (Assam)
		9	Ananta Bandyopadhyay (W.B.)
		10	M. L. Shetkar (Goa)
		11	To be filled up
		12	To be filled up
VIII	Head Quarter’s Secretary	:	To be filled up
IX	Head Quarter’s Treasurer	:	To be filled up
X	Office Secretary, Kolkata	:	Himanshu Sarkar
XI	Cashier, Kolkata	:	Binoy Bhattacharya
XII	Editor,“Employees Forum”	:	Sukomal Sen

 

 

 

Sukomal Sen extended his deep appreciation of the work of R.C. Jagga, the outgoing Asstt. General Secretary of AISGEF. Sukomal Sen expressed hope that the AISGEF would continue to benefit from the advice and help of help of R C Jagga. In fact, R.C. Jagga helped the conduct of the Conference by being present on the Conference dias throughout four days of conference.

In this session volunteers of Haryana were introduced to the participants. 323 volunteers who worked day and night for the successful conduct of the Conference organised a march past amid clapping and slogan shouting. In the end, Dharambir Singh Phogat, President Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana gave a vote of thanks to all those who worked to make the conference to make a grand success.

The elaborate arrangements made by the Reception Committee, and the hospitality extended by Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana, were highly appreciated by the delegates and observers.

The XIV National Conference of the AISGEF concluded with a call of Unity and Struggles of all the Employees and Workers not only against the neo-liberal policies but also to uproot the exploitative Capitalist system and install in its place an egalitarian Socialist System which alone would liberate the mankind from all the miseries of the Capitalist Exploitation. This Conference inspired and enthused not only the participants, but also the lakhs of members of the Federation all over the Country.

The XIV National Conference has imbibed in us a struggling zeal which would inspire all of our preparations with vigour and enthusiasm for the successful observance of the Country-wide Strike on 28 February 2012.

Let us leave no stone unturned for enrolling every employee to participate in the Strike by giving wide publicity on the following five point charter of demands to the grass root level

All roads should lead to the countrywide General Strike on 28 February 2012.

 

THIRD NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONVENTION OF AISGEF SUCCESSFULLY HELD ON 15 & 16 FEBRUARY 2011

The third national women's convention called by AISGEF was successfully held at Yuba. Bharati Stadium, Salt Lake, Kolkata on 15 & 16 February 2011. 406 women delegates and 74 male delegates (including National Executive members) representing 18 affiliates and 1 invitee of AISGEF took part in the Convention. 9 fraternal organisations also attended.

The convention got underway with the hoisting of the red flag by Ajoy Mukhopadhyay, Hony President AISGEF. Thereafter, floral tributes were paid at the martyr's column by assembled leadership and convenors of State Women Sub-committees.

Inaugural Session:

As proposed by R Muthusundaram, General Secretary, AISGEF and seconded by Smarajit Roy Choudhury, Assistant General Secretary, AISGEF, a presidium comprising of Ajoy Mukhopadhyay, R Tamil Selvi, Asha Kalra, Sheetal Gupte, Geeta Gopal, Ratna Sarkar and Jayati Chatterjee was formed to preside the convention. A Minutes Committee was formed with Jaideep Sarkar and Khwaja Moinul Haque for record of the proceedings.

R Muthusundaram moved the condolence resolution which was followed by a minute's silence by the delegates as a mark of respect to the departed.

Thereafter, Rekha Goswami, Chairperson of the Reception Committee and Hon'ble Minister of Self Help & Self Employment, Government of West Bengal addressed. In her address, she spoke of the offensives of the neo-liberal globalisation on the working people and women in particular. She also criticized the Union Govt for not being able to pass the Women Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. She also highlighted the achievements of the Left Front Government. She also called for raising the voice against all forms of social ills including dowry, child marriage etc on the 101st Anniversary of International Women's Day.

K Hemlata, Secretary, CITU and in-charge of the Monthly journal 'Voice of the Working Women' inaugurated the convention. In her speech she spoke about the wave of people's protest against dictatorial rule taking place in the Arab World. On the national scenario, she spoke about the efforts of CITU in forging unity amongst various trade unions. That unity would once again be manifested in the massive 23 February March to Parliament called by the central trade unions. She illustrated the glorious example of Kerala where even the loss making public sector units have turned around.

She said that it is in this background that the problems of women are to be addressed. The problems of women workers are not different from other sections of the working people. It is not men verus women issue. This message is to be circulated during the observance of International Women's Day. Unitedly we have to fight for removal of exploitation from society she said.

Minati Ghosh, General Secretary, All India Democratic Womens' Association, West Bengal and Nupur Basu of Bank Employees' Federation of India also addressed the convention and called for united movement to defeat the policies of neo-liberal globalization and safeguard the rights of the working people.

The Discussion Paper of the Convention was placed by Tamil Selvi in English and Shipra Singh in Hindi. Thereafter, 24 delegates from the state affiliates deliberated on the discussion paper. Various relevant and contemporary issues came up in the discussions - the pro-people and pro-employee polices of the LDF government in Kerala, need to strengthen the fight for social justice, prevailing cases of gender discrimination, dowry, child marriage, alcohol abuse, witch hunting, khap pannchayats, female foeticides and domestic violence inspite of change and lifestyle, formal education and use of modern gadgets, the importance of strengthening the movement of the unorganised workers, commendable role of AISGEF in bringing women activists into trade union leadership, state level various organisational agitations and increasing participation of women employees in those, lacunae in the Sexual harassment Bill, lackadaisical attitude of administration and authorities on complains made by the harassed women, withdrawal of New Pension Scheme and importance of trade union education. The delegates were unanimous that united struggle of men and women was essential to tide over the social ills.

R Muthusundaram, General Secretary, AISGEF, in his address explained the purpose of holding the women's convention. To attain equality women have to be organised and made conscious about the prevailing socio-economic and political scenario so that they can launch relentless and aggressive struggles to achieve equality and against all forms of oppressions of working people. He appealed to increase the subscribership of Employees' Forum, the monthly organ of AISGEF to be more informed about the issues facing the employees. He also called for making the women sub-committees more active and also form district and block level women subcommittees. He said that organizing women employees should be one of the primary tasks of trade unions.

The discussion of the' delegates was summed up by Sukomal Sen, Senior Vice-Chairman, AISGEF. He spoke about the participation of large number of women in the recent struggle against dictatorship in Egypt. He also referred to the inspiring participation of women in French Revolution, Algerian independence struggle and Indian freedom movement. Emancipation from all forms of oppression should be the goal of women's movement. Men also should realize the importance of participation of women in the struggles. Social Issues regarding fundamental social change should be discussed in the women sub-committee meetings at various levels.

Folk and mass songs were rendered by the Central Cultural team of the State Co-ordination Committee, West Bengal and by the attending delegates from various states. Ananta Bandopadhyay, General Secretary, State Coordination Committee, also addressed the convention on behalf of the Reception Committee. Sikha Mukherjee, Secretary, Reception Committee gave the thanks giving speech. Asha Kalra delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the chair. The convention concluded with the singing of the International Song.

An open session of the Convention was held at Ramlila Maidan, Moulali, Kolkata, attended by the delegates of the convention and a sizable number of state employees.

SPLENDID OBSERVANCE OF GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION & HOLDING OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AISGEF AT VIJAYAWADA ON 5-7 OCTOBER 2010

The Golden Jubilee celebration of All India State Government Employees’ Federation and the extended National Council Meeting of the Federation held at the historic city of Vijayawada on 5-7 October, 2010, reaffirmed the half-century old commitment of the Federation towards the working class of the country as a whole. About 1200 delegates & observers from 23 State units attended the mega event held at Andhra Layola College Auditorium; Vijayawada. The glorious past of the largest Federation of the country, its magnitude and its relentless & exemplary struggle for the causes of the toiling mass of the country had been honoured and recognized by one and all including the dignitaries and fraternal delegates of the country and abroad. The celebration called for building even greater unity of the working class of India to fight capitalist exploitation which was in the rise following the recent global economic crisis.

The three-day National Council meeting was jointly hosted by the three AISGEF affiliates of Andhra namely AP Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association, Telengana Non-Gazetted Officers’ Central Union & AP Public Sector Employees’ Federation and reached the peak of success thanks to the tireless effort of the hundreds of leaders and workers of these three organisations. The beautiful city of Vijayawada at the bank of river Krishna was named after the legendary leader & first General Secretary of the AISGEF Amanaganti Sri Ramulu while the magnificent dias was dedicated to its first Chairman and another pioneer of state government employees’ movement, Arobinda Ghosh.

The historic National Council Meeting commenced at the fore-noon of 5th October after the Chairman RG Karnik hoisted the red flag of AISGEF amidst a huge gathering of spirited contingent of delegates. Immediately after hoisting the flag, floral wreath were laid on the Martyr’s column by all leaders of the Federation and the invited dignitaries.

The Hon’ble Andhra Chief Minister K Rosaih inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebration. He praised the role of the Federation in the interest of the government employees across the country and promised to give a ‘favourable look’ to the resolutions adopted in the meeting. He felicitated the past leaders of the Federation. Sukomal Sen, the Editor of Employees’ Forum, handed over the Special Golden Jubilee Celebration issue to the Hon’ble CM for official inauguration. S V Anjaneyulu, founder Head Qr. Secretary of the Federation also walked down his memory lane before the house.

A contingent of fraternal delegates addressed the inaugural session including K Rajendran, General Secretary, School Teachers’ Federation of India, K K N Kutty, General Secretary, Confederation of Central Government Employees, H Mahadevan, Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions, K Venugopal, General Secretary, All India Insurance Employees’ Federation and Pradip Biswas, General Secretary, Bank Employees’ Federation of India. Without a single exception, all the frontrunners of the respective organisations described the AISGEF as their inspiration during last 50 years.

Fraternal delegates from Sri Lanka and Nepal attended the meeting. Leaders of all the foreign TUs spoke about the commendable role of the AISGEF for building the working class movement in the sub-continent.

R Muthusundaram placed the General Secretary’s Report before the General Council meeting which began at the post-lunch session on the inaugural day. The well-drafted report gave a brief account of the existing situation with special reference to the world economic crisis, pro-imperialist policies of the UPA-II government and its consequences upon the Indian working class. He called for chalking out the programme for offensive struggle against all the exploitations and invited the delegates to critically enrich the report thus placed.

On day-2 as many as 40 delegates from the affiliate organisations deliberated on the report placed by the General Secretary. Very interestingly among the 40 speakers discussed on the report, as many as 18 were women. On this score the achievement and understanding of the AISGEF is indeed commendable.

24 draft resolutions were placed and adopted in the meeting including on Striking Bihar Government employees, On Striking Tamilnadu Noon Meals Employees, on Punjab Ministerial Employees’ Strike, on price rise, on Policy and Programme and against Maoist and other Secessionist Violence.

Summing up the day long discussions on the General Secretary’s Report, R Muthusundaram addressed all the issues raised by the delegates. He added that problems of a capitalistic society cannot be solved within the capitalist framework itself. Exploitation can be eliminated in an alternative social order called socialism. He invited the august house to march forward for achieving the goal bravely. The report along with the summing up of the General Secretary was put to vote and the same was accepted unanimously.

Concluding the historic extended council meeting Sukomal Sen gave a brief deliberation explaining again and again the need of building greater unity of state government employees cutting across the country. He expressed his firm belief that based on its half-century old legacy, the AISGEF would hold high the flag of the state government employees in particular and that of the Indian working class in general.

R G Karnik, the Chairman delivered the vote of thanks. On behalf of the Reception Committee Gopal Reddy, President of AP NGO Association offered vote of thanks to the chair of the inaugural session and Iqbal, President of Vijayawada District Committee of AP NGO offered the vote of thanks at the National Council.

Vijayawada witnessed a huge rally organized as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the AISGEF after completion of the meeting. The rally commenced from the Indira Ghandhi Municipal Stadium and passed through the main thoroughfares of the city to reach Andhra Layola College campus. Hundreds of local employees besides the delegates and observers participated at the rally amidst tremendous enthusiasm and zeal holding high colourful banners and posters with local folk dancers at the front. Hundreds of local TU workers greeted the rally with red salute to the delegates.

Rich cultural programme organized by different leading Kuchipudi artistes and cultural groups of AP added a new dimension to the celebration. Colourful dances, cherishing mass songs and an excellent drama on the great Telengana peasant uprising simply made the delegates spellbound.

AISGEF has extended revolutionary greetings to the Reception Committee for its unforgettable role to make the Golden Jubilee Celebration a landmark success.

SPLENDID OBSERVANCE OF COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 7 SEPTEMBER 2010 BY 65 LAKH STATE EMPLOYEES & TEACHERS AT THE CALL OF ALL INDIA STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION

At the call of All India State Government Employees’ Federation and Central Trade Unions like INTUC, CITU, AITUC, HMS, UTUC, UTUC (Lenin Sarani), TUCC, AICCTU and other Trade Unions in sectors like telecom, railways, defence, banks, insurance and various public sector units, State Govt employees and teachers participated in the General Strike of 7 September 2010 with a challenging success. About 65 lakh employees and teachers all over the country joined the strike. Overall, more than ten crore (one billion) workers and employees participated in the united countrywide strike action.

September 7 general strike is the culmination of these series of collective and demonstrative programmes by the trade unions irrespective of political affiliations to carry forward the countrywide united struggle against the anti-people economic policies. The success of the strike is yet another manifestation of the increasing resentment amongst the toiling people against price rise, unemployment, retrenchment, repression on labour rights let loose by the pro-corporate, pro-rich policies of the government. There was not a single state where there was no strike. The spontaneous and unprecedented response to the strike was yet another warning to the Governments to desist from their feverish pursuit of anti-worker policies.

Impact of general strike was felt in many of the major airports of the country. Numerous flights had to be cancelled or rescheduled. Train and road services were also affected across the country. In the central government sector, around two million employees covering around 80 per cent of the workforce joined the strike. Overwhelming section of employees in the telecom, postal departments, AG office, income tax and audit offices joined the strike in a big way throughout the country braving threats and prohibition. More than eighty per cent of the defence sector employees working in 41 ordinance factories and depots under army, navy and airforce, the MES offices and 50 DRDO laboratories all over the country have joined the strike action. In Bharat Electronics Ltd under defence ministry, strike was total in three units while in other units it was partial. Participation of unorganised sector workers including construction and beedi workers was also noticeable. Banks and the insurance sectors witnessed almost total strike throughout the country involving around 20 lakh workers and employees. 80% of the six lakh coal mining workers also joined the strike. Impact of the strike was also felt in the ports, petroleum sector, industrial areas and special economic zones. A considerable section of the medical representatives were on strike. Around fifteen lakh anganwadi workers and also ASHA workers also participated in the strike. Massive rallies were organised in several cities were eminent trade union leaders addressed. Thousands of picketers were arrested across the country and in several places police resorted to lathi charge on the strike day.

In UP, Haryana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tripura, Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur and Tamilnadu it was a complete success. In Andhra Pradesh State about 80% of PSU workers joined the strike. In other state government offices in the state, the strike was a considerable success. In Orissa and Punjab it was partial. In Rajasthan and M.P. demonstrative programmes were held all over the State.

In Jammu and Kashmir a large procession of striking employees and workers from the industrial sectors, banks, insurance, government employees and other establishments started from Press Club at Jammu to converge at a mass rally at Indra Chowk. In Assam Bank, LIC, BSNL, postal, defence, motor transport and state and central government employees participated in the strike. In Bihar state and central government employees, Bank, LIC, joined the strike en masse. In Haryana, complete strike was observed in Haryana Road Transport Corporation and almost total strike in Electricity Board. 90 per cent municipal workers throughout the state were on strike. In some industrial units of Gurgaon and Dharuhera, many of which do not have even trade unions, witnessed spontaneous and total strike by the workers. In Maharashtra, about about 2.76 lakh Zilla Parishad employees and teachers participated in the strike along with other sections of working fraternity including state government employees. In Karnataka, State and central government employees massively participated in the strike. A rally was also organised at Bengaluru. In Punjab strike was 80 per cent in road transport corporations and also in Punjab State Electricity Board. In Rajasthan, response of strike was almost total in road transport workers paralysing traffic throughout the state. In Uttar Pradesh State government employees took part in the strike in a big way. In Chattisgarh, the privatised BALCO witnessed almost complete strike both by regular workers and contract workers.

In Manipur, the government offices, post offices, BSNL and AG offices wore a deserted look owing to strike by the concerned employees.

While greeting the workers and employees warmly for the united action, the central trade unions called upon them to prepare for a massive march to parliament in the month of February, 2011 if the issues raised by the trade unions are not sorted out. AISGEF also warmly congratulated the employees for their heroic performance.

DEMANDS of the 7 September 2010 General Strike:
1.	Price rise of essential commodities to be contained through appropriate corrective and distributive measures like universal PDS and containing speculation in commodity market.
2.	Concrete proactive measures to be taken for linkage of employment protection in the recession stricken sectors as a condition for the stimulus package being offered to the concerned entrepreneurs and for concrete steps against retrenchment, lay-off, contractorisation and outsourcing.
3.	Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.
4.	Steps to be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line In respect of eligibility of coverage of the schemes under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 and creation of National Fund for the Unorganised Sector to provide for a National Floor Level Social Security to all unorganised workers including the contract/casual workers in line with the recommendation of National Commission on Enterprises in Unorganised Sector and Parliamentary Standing Committee on labour.
5.	Disinvestment of shares of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) is not resorted to for meeting budgetary deficit and instead their growing reserve and surplus is used for expansion and modernization purpose and also for revival of sick Public Sector Undertakings.
Additional Demands by AISGEF & Central Govt Employees’ Confederation
6.	To fill up the huge number of vacancies in government Departments through Regular appointments.
7.	To abolish contractorisation, privatisation and outsourcing in government functions/services and bring all the contract/part-time / daily waged employees under regular establishment by regularizing their services.
8.	To withdraw PFRDA Bill, and to desist all attempts to do away with Social Security Schemes including the existing Defined Benefit Pension Scheme and bring all those who are under the New Pension Scheme into the erstwhile defined benefit pension scheme.
9.	To guarantee the Right to Strike as a Fundamental Right of the employees.

30 OCTOBER 2007 NATIONWIDE STRIKE

The Central, State Government, State PSUs employees and teachers all over the country have decided to go on a nationwide strike on 30 October 2007 in support of a 12-Point Charter of Demands including immediate withdrawal of New Contributory Pension Scheme as the focal point, halting downsizing operations and other anti-employee and anti-people moves of the UPA Government. The decision was endorsed by a National Convention held at the MPCU Shah Auditorium, New Delhi on 13 August 2007. Over 800 delegates including a number of women cutting across the States and various unions joined the mighty Convention. From AISGEF a total of 622 out of allotted quota of 625 delegates attended the Convention from all State affiliates.

The Central Govt employees, the State Government employees teachers and the workers in the Central and State Public Sector Undertakings particularly, and the working class in general, had been the victims of severe economic offensive of the successive Governments that came into existence in the country ever since the new economic policies were ushered in 1991. While the Government of India had been modulating these policies on the advice and direction of the triumvirate viz. IMF, World Bank and WTO, the State Governments had been curtly directed to adhere to these policies. Some of the State Governments followed it willingly; whereas others under various pressures exerted on them. At this moment the most dangerous issue that is confronting the employees in the government sector is the conspiracy to foist the IMF-World Bank dictated New Pension Scheme on them and denial of Interim Relief to the central government employees pending final recommendation of the 6th Central Pay Commission as had been the practice on all earlier occasions.

All India State Government Employees Federation and most of the Federations of the Government employees, teachers and PSU workers are spearheading the resistance against these ill-advised economic policies and had been the participants in all the Strike actions organized against these economic offensives.

This National Convention urged upon all organizations of the Central and State Government employees and the teachers to unite and mobilize the employees for a sustained struggle and organize a countrywide national strike on 30 October 2007 in order to realize the demands.

On to the historic Strike on 30 October 2007.
 

Charter of demands:
1.	Scrap the PFRDA Bill and Cancel appointment of the Pension Fund Managers;Introduce statutory pension scheme for the new recruits;
2.	Grant full Trade Union rights including the right to strike to all Government employees through appropriate legislation;
3.	(a) Stop downsizing the Government departments, privatisation and contractorisation/ casualisation of Governmental and teaching functions. Stop contractual appointments of teachers and workers, regularize all daily rated, casual and contingent employees; (b) Lift the Ban on recruitment and fill up the existing vacancies of all Government departments, educational institutions and State undertakings; Provide job to jobless.
4.	Grant Interim relief of minimum of Rs.1000/- to all Central Government employees. Implement the 6th CPC recommendation with effect from 1.1.2006.
5.	Bring down the abnormally rising prices of essential commodities and strengthen subsidized public distribution system.
6.	Merge of 50% DA with basic pay with all consequential benefits and release of all DA instatements to the State Govt employees.
7.	Withdraw the 5% cap and other restrictions on compassionate appointment. Restore the compassionate appointment scheme wherever it stands abolished.
8.	Stop the proposal to replace the CGHS by Medicare insurance scheme.
9.	Implement all pending awards of the Board of Arbitration.
10.	Remove the quantum ceiling on Bonus and grant bonus to all.
11.	Set up a Judicial Committee for wage revision of Grameen Dak Sewaks in replacement of Nataraja Murthy Committee.
12.	Increase GPF& Small Savings' interest rates and restore to its early level.

MAGNIFICENT GENERAL STRIKE ON 14 DECEMBER 2006

MANIFESTATION OF DEEP ANGER AGAINST IMPERIALIST GLOBALISATION

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