Why Do We Participate in WSF: Indian Trade Unions

 The Mumbai World Social Forum 2004 will see the participation of most of the trade unions in India. But there are some trade unions, which are not part of the WSF. While most trade unions wholeheartedly welcome it, a few are indifferent to the event. Trade Union Leaders speak their mind to Sindhu Menon of Labour File about what the first WSF outside Brazil means for Indian labour.

WSF - A Broad Protest Platform against Imperialistic Onslaught

WSF is a “big event” as a part of the global protest against the onslaught of transnational companies. It is a venue for reflective thinking and democratic debate. WSF reflects the views of the working class of India, who are opposed to the idea of capitalist globalisation commanded by large multinational corporations and international institutions.

“AITUC is participating in the WSF,”

Because we think that all of us should join in the global protest. The World Social Forum is a global process and so all the events that take place in this forum will have an international dimension. We strongly believe that it is a powerful platform where the less privileged, marginalised and the oppressed can collectively and effectively raise their voices against the onslaught they face.

Because it will help us in interacting with international delegates. Relationship is built through such programmes and events. This will help us in building a strong network against globalisation, liberalisation and multinational forces.

Because we think that participating in it will heighten the protest movement. It will heighten the resistance of the working class against the onslaught of MNCs. The WSF indeed is very broad protest platform against the imperialistic onslaught.

A large number of trade unions affiliated to AITUC will participate in the meeting. We will be organising seminars, presenting papers and taking part in discussions. I personally will present a paper.

Many NGOs, social organisations and individuals will be participating in WSF. It is going to be an open space for discussing alternatives to the dominant neo-liberal process and for exchanging experiences. It is the right forum to strengthen alliances and build coalitions among organisations, peoples’ movements, NGOs and trade unions.

Gurudas Das Gupta

General Secretary

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)

WSF - A Forum, Free Space, Platform and a Movement of Idea

WSF is an international forum against neo-liberal policies and capitalist-led globalisation. It seeks to provide a space for discussing alternatives, for exchanging experiences and for strengthening alliances between social movements, unions of working people and NGOs.

WSF is a forum, free space, platform and a movement of ideas. It seeks to provide space just for debate, formulating proposals and exchange of experience and visions of another world. It interrelates organisations and movements and encourages the participant organisations to place their actions at local, national and international contexts. In that sense, it is a continuation of the struggle against globalisation, which is gaining further momentum with every protest against the forces and institutions, which advocate and spearhead globalisation.

It is a forum against WTO, World Bank and IMF. It opposes the process of globalisation commanded by large multinationals corporations and the governments and international institutions. Anarchists, people with utopian ideas, revolutionaries and activists with different views participate in the WSF. It is a platform where people working on diverse issues, but working against onslaught of WTO and capitalists come together.

We, in CITU, consider it very important to participate actively in WSF. The WSF is a forum for coming together and exchanging views and ideas. In the absence of an alternate forum it definitely will be of help in building linkages.

About 100 activists from CITU will actively participate in WSF. All unions affiliated to CITU will be participating in the event. We have called upon the CITU state committees, federations, affiliated unions and the working people to join the World Social Forum 2004 to make it a success. I personally will be there on all the days. We are presenting papers in some meetings; we are also participating in discussions to present our views. The CITU will have bilateral talks with other unions to strengthen bilateral relations.

A meeting of the public sector activists has been called on 16 January 2004 to discuss on a united movement for PSUs. We, along with CGT France will organise a seminar on 17 January on the topic ‘Energy for All’. On 19 January, a meeting of all trade unions in the world is planned. Every day there will be an official seminar on trade union issues.

We have received messages from so many trade unions abroad saying they are participating in the WSF. Even Chinese trade unions have shown interest in WSF. Trade unions want to utilise this forum. Some extremists are also organising seminars. The interesting part is that the same people attend different seminars organised by entirely different groups coming from different schools of thought. The WSF is an exchange of views and ideas, though there is no declaration.

If another world is possible, it can be only a socialist world. People have different views – like an anarchist world or a capitalist world. But the CITU is quite clear and that we need a socialist world.

A drawback, which we see in WSF, is several foreign funded NGOs are participating in the process with their own agenda. As the ILO Director rightly puts it, these NGOs have a ‘donor driven agenda’. But even with this drawback, we think WSF is a positive development. We are not opposed to NGOs. We do cooperate with good NGOs. But there are many NGOs who consider making money as their only motive. We are opposed to those. At the same time, we do not have problem in relating with good NGOs.

M K Pandhe

President

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)

WSF - An Attempt to Share both Experiences and Platforms

WSF as a phenomenon is a natural response to what is happening the world over. It is an opportunity, in fact, a rare opportunity for the people around the world to meet and exchange their views on the havoc created by the imposition of new economic policies without considering its social implications, particularly on the lower strata of the society.

I feel that all those who have experienced the situation arising out of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation should come together on one platform and raise their voice.

I am connected with various institutions in the trade union movement. I have encouraged all of them to participate in the WSF. We have been playing the best possible role to coordinate their activities. As the President of All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF), I have advised the federation to book a stall for exhibition and coordination of all railwaymen in India as well as coming from abroad. The HMS has also booked a stall.

At the international level, the International Transport Workers Federation (Purohit is the President of the federation) has also booked stalls. There would be one big labour event in which one of the main speakers would be Guy Rider, General Secretary of International Confederation of Free Trade Union, the organisation to which HMS is affiliated. HMS has taken the responsibility to make that event a success. There will be a big conference (of 5,000 people) of ITF. The responsibility of the conference has been bestowed on the ITF affiliates in India including AIRF. There will be a seminar by AIRF in which leaders of railwaymen from India as well as those coming from other countries will be participating.

Trade unions, NGOs and other like-minded institutions are part of the civil society. I have always believed that all partners in the civil society should work as closely as possible because no single partner can do justice to every requirement of the society. If they work together a lot of good things can be done. At the WSF, our attempt would be to share both the experiences and the platforms.

Umraomal Purohit

General Secretary

Hind Mazdoor Sabha

WSF - Testing the Power of Developing Countries

It is for the first time that a World Social Forum is happening in India. We are participating in WSF but I am not personally involved in the process. The WSF is a testing ground for the power of developing countries. We did not participate in the Porto Alegre WSF events, but we thought in India we should participate.

The Forum is against the diktats of WTO, especially against intellectual property rights. The WSF is coming to India at a time when the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun has failed. The debate in the WSF will help the developing countries to strengthen their views against WTO. Trade unions’ support will be there to those who oppose WTO. The discussions will also be helpful in evolving national policies on such issues.

The movement has, of course, gained momentum, but it has to be sustained. INTUC representatives will be participating in the WSF. But since it clashes with the dates of our General Council, full participation is not possible. In the later part of the conference, we may delegate more participants.

The participation in the WSF was a common decision taken by trade union centres. Such an international event is taking place in India for the first time. We thought that we would gain some experience from it.

We would like to have collaboration with NGOs. There are NGOs, which pack a lot of information and do praiseworthy work. This is a right venue to interact with so many good NGOs and collaborate with them. That is one major reason why we are participating in this process.

Chandidas Sinha

Secretary,

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)

WSF - A Positive Development

To be honest, we have not given enough thought to WSF. The fact is that we did not get enough time to pay attention to such an international event.

We are not against WSF. Such international events should take place in India. But since there are innumerable developments that take place in India, which need immediate attention, we cannot relieve ourselves and pay attention to the world affairs. The reality is that we are entangled with the Indian workers problem and so do not even get a breathing space.

BMS has deputed Keshubhai Thakkar to look into the international affairs. If he, after giving it the right thought, decides to participate in WSF, we will participate.

January is a hectic month for us. We have to give the union verification claim to the government. Since the union so vast spread, it needs a lot of effort and time to do it.

We do not have any objection in participating in this process. We do not want to stay away from this process, but the only constrain we have is time. We consider WSF as a positive development. It should be a good forum where social activists try to have interface with people.

Uday Patwardhan

General Secretary

Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh

WSF - A Collective Action of Individuals against Common Rivals

The concept of WSF seems to be quite interesting because it does not appear to be owned by any particular unions, groups, NGOs or individuals. I feel that it as a collective action of individuals against common rivals. It is the resistance of the people against globalisation and liberalisation.

Though the process of WSF looks fine, but how far will this type of events have an impact is not certain. There are many good trends seen in it, but will it lead to any positive outcome?

The “Another World” idea is beautiful, but how is going to happen? Is it possible to capture such a world through such programmes? Is it possible to achieve such goals without struggles?

How are we planning to go ahead? The success of WSF depends on this answer. If one can take care of the future action, WSF can become a good venue.

All India Federation of Trade Unions is actively participating in the WSF. We are trying to mobilise as many groups and peoples as we can. Since AIFTU face shortage of funds, we cannot have a large-scale mobilisation. We are mobilising people, organising seminars and actively participating in discussions in the run-up to the event.

Till we fight against the onslaught of globalisation, liberalisation and capitalists, until all the poor working people come together, we cannot have a bright future. The WSF is an open space. It should leave space for the multitude of more militant and more committed workers’ movements.

WSF can become a positive development. If we give it the right perspective and look at it through the correct angle, there can be success.

P K Sahi

All India Federation of Trade Unions (AIFTU)

Member, Central Committee

WSF - Crave for a Soft Form of Globalisation

WSF – the name suggests that it is a socialist forum. But how much socialist idea does it have is the question that comes to us. The idea for which the WSF claims to work is not clear to me. Whatever literature I have gone through, I feel that the WSF also craves for some sort of globalisation, not the globalisation per se, but a soft form of globalisation.

Does WSF do anything for the toiling masses? Do they reflect on the problems faced by the unorganised workers or the agriculture workers and peasants? It is not clear to me, what they are preaching for?

Why is it named social forum, what are their aims and objectives, how they are going to help the toiling masses, unless and until these things are clear how can we take a position on WSF?

The UTUC will be participating in the WSF. We are participating because we have to put forward our ideas and also have to clarify our doubts.

I believe I am a speaker in WSF. If I get a chance, I will definitely project my organisation and its views.

We are not mobilising our union and its affiliates to participate in the WSF. Without knowing the objects and aims we cannot participate. Only after participating in the WSF it will become clear to us what WSF is. May be after that we can decide on the future strategy.

Abany Roy

Secretary,

United Trades Union Congress (UTUC)