The annual session of the apex tripartite forum in the country - the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) took place in September after a delay of few months. According to the trade unions it was delayed to include the report of the Second National Labour Commission on Labour. Without giving enough time to the trade unions, the government wanted to discuss the report, which the trade unions consider as a shrewd move by the government.

The copy of the Report was made available to the Central Trade unions only towards the end of the first week of September 2002. The Government move was to secure some sort of green signal from the tripartite forum for a go-ahead on implementation of the Report of the Second National Commission on Labour.

Indian Labour Conference: United Challenge by Trade Union
(pp 4), The Working Class, Vol 33, No: 3, Nov:2002

We deliberately refrained from participating in the work of the Commission because we never wanted to get involved in the preparation of the anti-labour report. Without seeking to ameliorate the growing distress of the workers and employees, it seeks to give a free hand to employers which will lead to further adding to miseries of the working people.

2nd Labour Commission Report, A Free hand to the Employers
(pp 183) Trade Union Record, 20 September-5 October 2002

The 38th session of the Indian Labour Conference held in September last, where the workers’ representatives had successfully resisted any discussion on the recommendations of the Second National Commission on Labour, an item included in the agenda at the last minute and disclosed that a special tripartite meeting should be convened to consider the report.

Labour Commission’s Report, a Mixed Bag
 (pp 1) HMS Bulletin, Vol.1, No.12, November 2002

Indian Labour Conference was held on 28 and 29 September. The government had an evil design to put the seal of approval of the ILC on the report of the Second Labour Commission. Also, it intended to deny the central trade unions the opportunity to express their views in the plenary session.

Gen. Secretary reports advance in United Actions
(pp 2, Trade Union Record, Vol.60, No:23, 5 December 2002

Steps have been initiated to privatise the National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) a giant enterprise established by the Government of India. The Company which is considered to be a turning point industry in the 50 year old history of the Indian Aluminium Industry has given the country self-sufficiency in aluminium, and a technological edge in making this strategic non-ferrous metal comparable to the best of the world standards. Though NALCO is one of the most profitable PSUs in the country the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment has proposed to disinvest this profit-making company within a period of six months.

Any proposition to sell out such a company to private/foreign hands is nothing but treachery to national interests. If NALCO is privatised then the private players will have the total control of aluminum price in India.

Move to Privatise NALCO an Act of Treachery
(pp 12) Trade Union Record; Vol.60.No.23; 5 December, 2002

When the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment announced its decision to privatise NALCO by dis-investing 61.15 per cent of the remaining 87.15 per cent of shares, there was a wave of shock among the democratic people of Orissa. Working people of Orissa are agitated over this more of Central government. Trade unions and left parties are in the fore front of the movement against NALCO privatisation.

Movement Against NALCO Privatisation
(pp 22) The Working Class, Vol 33, No: 4, December 2002

Even cash rich profit making public sector enterprises are not spared from disinvestment and privatisation, which is nothing short of fraudulent appropriation of state capital. There is all round opposition to NALCO’s privatisation, including from the ruling alliance in the state.

 (pp 11) HMS Bulletin, Vol.1, No.12, November 2002

The government has so far realised less than Rs 3,500 crore from disinvestment this fiscal, and the target of Rs 12,000 crore can just about be realised if transactions such as National Fertilizer Ltd, shipping Corporation of India, State Trading Corporation Ltd, National Aluminum Company and Maruti are completed. An Oil company privatisation - Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd or Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd would have enabled the government to cross the disinvestment target.

Phew! Selloff Aims at Rs 78,000 Crores
(pp 2) The Indian Worker, Vol XLVI; No: 22: November 16-30, 2002

To intensify the stir against the center’s economic policy, central trade unions, except BMS, and independent federations representing a cross section of the working class of the country have given a call for a nation wide agitation in the form of Satyagrah, Jail Bharo, Rasta Roko on January 8, 2003. The Assembly has decided to take out a massive protest demonstration in the Budget session of Parliament on February 26. Around 20 lakh workers and employees are expected to participate in the agitation and about 5 lakh workers would be participating in the march to the Parliament.

The oft-repeated assertion by the Prime Minister about his Government’s determination to vigorously push forward the atrocious policy of globalisation and the retrograde reforms there under, including the anti-worker and pro-employer amendments in the labour laws, is a challenge confronting the country’s working people and their movement. A concerted onslaught is unleashed on the workers and their trade unions. Never before had the working people come under such attack.

Forward to Nationwide Joint Satyagraha
(pp 4) The Working Class, Vol 33, No: 4, December :2002

Volunteers in thousands are being enlisted and trained in the non violent defiance of law, to register the ever greatest protest against the pernicious economic policies of the BJP-led government at the centre. With a view to force the government to either abjure the path of total surrender to the dictates of the IMF/WB/WTO combine or face the consequences of the rising waves of anger of the working people of India who are determined and united, as never before, to face their country’s sovereignty from the clutches of the quislings.

Battle Lines are Drawn
 (pp 1) Trade Union Record; Vol.60.No.23; 5 December, 2002

The March to the parliament is intended to sensitise the members of the central legislature to the legitimate demands of the working class and also to the distress caused by the ongoing atrocious economic and labour policies to the people at large and the working people.

 (pp 8) HMS Bulletin, Vol.1, No.12, November 2002