Trade unions plan nationwide ‘satyagraha’ on February 26

Emboldened by the recent two-day strike by coal workers, central trade unions of all political hues have decided to launch a countrywide ‘satyagraha’ on February 26, ahead of the Union Budget presentation.

At a meeting held here last week, 10 major trade unions, including the BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Congress-backed INTUC and Left parties-backed unions, said they will intensify their protest against the recent amendments to labour laws, which according to them have a “pro-corporate tilt”.

In a joint statement the trade unions said the coal strike early this month has “boosted the morale of workers in general”, leading them to carry their “unity to the sectoral level.”

Flaying the government for promulgating ordinance in coal, land acquisition and higher foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance, the unions said: “The government has made its intention clear to bring FDI into Railways and Defence and other strategic sectors.

“Sectoral struggles in coal, banks, insurance state transport, electricity are being launched….The recent decision by Central government employees, including Railways and Defence, to stage a march to Parliament in April from thereon to declare strike actions is a positive development.”

The trade unions said they had submitted a 10-point demand charter to the Narendra Modi government last year, but “unfortunately the government has not taken any action”.

They have been protesting since 2009 against growing price rise, PSU disinvestment, violation of labour laws, growing contractual labour, non-payment of minimum wages and so on, they added.

Last week, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya held a tripartite meeting and reiterated his government’s commitment to the process of tripartite consultations. He appealed to employer and employee representatives to be partners in ‘nation building’. However, the trade unions allege that the recent labour amendments were carried out in a unilateral manner.

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