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| TRADE UNION MOVEMENT: AN OUT OF LINE EXERCISE | | | K K PANGOTRA
In Jammu and Kashmir the reaction of common masses arises some questions regarding recent strike of government and public sector employees demanding pay arrears as per recommendations of sixth pay commission and extending superannuation age from 58 to 60 years. The emergence of trade union movement, few years after transfer of power in 1947, was a matter of socio-economic concern. The manifestation of trade unions was a signal of coming capitalistic society and a confirmation of prophesy that India can’t fully adopt the socialistic pattern of society. It was also prophesised by the left thinkers that a day will come when powerful and capitalist section will socially, economically and politically dominate the poor and downtrodden.
In J&K the half hearted promise and adamant nature of state government to fulfil the demand of pay arrears shows that the government knows to suppress the employees by all tricks of division i.e. sweetness, temptation, punishment and discrimination popularly called SAM- DAM- DAND- BHED. During ten days of pen down strike the employee’s leadership couldn’t get the co-operation of commons. The commons notwithstanding the legality of employee’s demands didn’t favour them. In fact the employees of government departments and of government undertaking units for years have been deterring the mutual social dialogue due to lack of class consciousness. The self centred tendency of employees divided the commons of the society. For as much the success of trade union movement depends on class consciousness, it was therefore necessary for government employees to hold the law of class struggle. The leaders who remain at whelm of power better understand the increasing differences between government employees and those earning livelihood from non-government sector. The circulation of anti employees’ propaganda by government through different modes of media is the outcome of basic knowledge of differences between government employees and commons of non-government sector.
Regarding success and history of trade union in J&K, Mr. Sampat Prakash, a renowned trade unionist, writes in his paper presented in a workshop titled ‘Repression of Democratic Freedom and the Trade Union Movement’ in New Delhi on 9-13 Nov. 2006. “In Jammu and Kashmir trade union centre (originally registered as the J&K Low Paid Government Employees Federation) came into being in the year 1964 in defence of four lakh government employees. These include teachers and workers of Jammu and Kashmir government and public sector undertakings. The cadre and the leadership structure of the state level trade union movement from the grass root level in all the three region of the state. Massive mobilisation was done by holding rallies, dharnas, district level conferences and hunger strike.
The collective struggle ultimately culminated in an indefinite strike in December 1976, which happened for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. The state govt. resorted to ruthless repression by detaining hundreds of activists. There were 17 dismissals under article 311-c of the Indian constitution. Many trade union activities faced punitive measure like suspension, transfers, and attachments of properties, fines and police repression at interrogation centres. The leadership was released in the year 1969 and the trade union movement again became very active.”
The question is what were the causes of success against govt. and reactionary bureaucracy? Very clearly, trade union movement was honest on its line and ideology. The movement had an ideology. The struggle was a result of differences of polices between the rulers and the ruled. The trade union movement had a massive support of the educated youth and the unemployed intelligentsia. From 1967 to 1975 successful state level strikes were organised by the union cadre, which changed the course of mass movement into a progressive radical left movement. The employee’s movement received tremendous support in struggle launched since 1967 and timely guidance through all India level protest meetings held against the repression on the trade union movement in J & K by all major trade unions of India. But today the socio-economic scenario is almost different. The social conditions started changing after 1990 due to globalisation and new economic policy. Due to globalisation the attraction for money among rulers and traders increased. Day by day the infection knocked the senses of the employees which resulted into degradation of moral and human values. A huge number of employees became selfish resulting in deterioration of the thoughts of the class struggle and class consciousness. It weakened the constructive social dialogue between the govt. employees, commons of non-govt. sector and educated unemployed youth etc. The demand of govt. employees regarding increase of superannuation age from 55 to 58 years does not seem logical and just to unemployed educated youth. In this contradictory situation how this section can support the demands of govt. employees? Trade union movement never meant for a self centred and selfish struggle keeping aside the difficulties of other section of society. The struggle of this type is bound to fail for the success lies in the public support. Increasing corruption in govt. departments and amassing of huge property by govt. employees is creating social division. The need is to bring a humanitarian face among the general public and educated unemployed. The need is to show concern and dutifulness towards society. In the prevailing situation it is also necessary to hold the support of the intelligentsia, unemployed and commons dealing in non-government sector. The employees must understand that the rulers are using anti-employees sentiments as weapons against the govt. employees. For centuries there lies a struggle between ruling class and the common public. The right and basic thinking of class struggle and class consciousness has brought radical changes in the society. The emergence of justice, equality and democracy is the result of class struggle and class consciousness. The end of tyranny and oppression was due to knowledge of class struggle and class consciousness.
Undoubtedly, the demands of employees regarding pay areas as recommended by sixth pay commission are just and genuine but the course of action and line of ideology does not involve commons. This resulted in failure of govt. employees. For real success it is necessary to bring all the commons and weaker section of society on a common platform. The present line of trade union movement in India is guided by selfish interests.
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