Ten million workers strike across India

by M K N Moorthy

Ten million workers, including workers from the banks, ports and mines were 
in the frontline of a nationwide general strike in India on April 16. The 
general strike, called by most of the leading trade unions of India, was 
against privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

The strike brought the entire nation to a standstill for 24 hours. Kerala, 
one of the Indian states, was exempted from the general strike as there was 
a month-long strike by its government employees in February.

Hailing the strike as a great success the All India Trade Union Congress 
(AITUC) General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said that millions of workers 
had displayed their militancy by observing the strike.

The right-wing BJP-led Government is "corporatising" the public sector, 
including ports, which would make them independent companies instead of 
government trusts.

The strike was a clear-cut warning to India's Government and for the 
multinational corporations which are implementing new economic policies in 
the country. The strike showed the unity and strength of the Indian trade 
union movement in the struggles against liberalisation, privatisation and 
globalisation policies.

The government says that privatisation of vital sections of Public Sector 
Undertakings is the only way to stabilise the economy and to create an 
investor-friendly environment.

Yet, thousands of workers have lost their jobs. Economic recession is at a 
peak and the government's claim that there will be job security in the 
private sector is false.

Right-wing Prime Minister Vajpayee, has introduced a "Hire and Fire Scheme" 
in the Indian private sector, which is seen as a way to destroy trade 
unions. Many of India's State governments are doing the same.

The central government is downsizing its operations by cutting total 
employees by 10 per cent every year. The result will be disappointment for 
jobseekers after completing their education. Compulsory and voluntary 
retirement schemes are hanging like the sword of Damocles over government 
employees and workers in PSUs.

Another example of the disastrous privatisation policies is in food 
distribution. Since the destruction of public food distribution, millions 
of tonnes of grain have rotted in the Food Corporation of India's 
warehouses.

The BJP Government is deliberately working overtime to increase the profits 
of the private sector. The Government is rolling back taxes for the rich 
and middle classes.

Electricity tariffs as well as public transportation charges were hiked 
twice in the last year by State governments, which are under pressure from 
central government.

The only trade union organisation that did not take part in the general 
strike was the Indian National Trade Union Congress, which is affiliated 
with the Indian National Congress party.

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M K Moorthy is the Indian correspondent of the People's Weekly World, 
newspaper of the Communist Party USA pww@pww.org