tp_headline.gif (8351 bytes)

NEWSNOTES
Charactar of struggle has to change: Majumdar

   boxhead.gif (509 bytes)

usm-red.gif (836 bytes)CITU 7th State Conference
N
ature of struggle has to change

Staff Reporter

The interests of the working class can be protected only by convincing a massive proportion of workers to participate in the struggle against the perilous aggression of the MNCs in the name of globalisation. Hence the labour movement should not be confined to simply the fulfillment of economic claims and demand. It must be intensified by arousing awareness among the labourers against the evils of globalisation through large political propaganda. This notion was emphasized by Chittabrata Majumdar at the 7th State Conference of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) in Haldia. The Conference started at the "Comrade Prabir Sengupta Mancha" in Haldia Dock Institute.

Majumdar pointed out that over the last four years although CITU has been quite active against the different sorts of attack on the working class it has shown some strategically weaknesses in tackling them in the correct manner. One of the main reasons behind this is the inability of ascertaining the novelty and character of the attack. Majumdar analysed that in the name of globalisation and liberalisation the attack on the workers since 1991 is of a different kind compared with the inroads made against these labourers by the proprietors prior to 1991. This attack on the labourers has spread worldwide including the developed nations. As the social security is more for the workers in the advanced countries, they are only temporarily saved from such attack but in the long run they have to invariably facea it. He further said that the attack is not due to monopoly capital accumulation of any country but owing to capital accumulation under international usury, specially on part of the MNCs. Thus such a practice cannot be countered against in the same way as it was done against the capitalists here. This is allowing the intensity of the attack to grow inspite of the labour movement and so there is a possibility of disappointment to creep in. So the nature of the attack must be correctly perceived by the workers of the labour movement and above all the entire working class.

Majumdar said that the failure and the consequent disenchantment regarding the movement against globalisation have raised questions over the leadership role of the working class and even over the necessity of socialism. Majumdar strongly criticised this by pointing out that the illusion that the fulfillment of basic demands can be done from within the capital9ist system is raising all doubts. In the context of the rejoining of the capitalists in the aftermath of the fall of the socialist system in the erstwhile Soviet Union, he said that the capitalist group had launched the globalisation policy by raising slogans like "Socialism is a historical delusion", "The solution of all problems can be fraught about by capitalism", etc. But the vaporiness of this kind of publicity soon became evident and the crisis of capitalism has depend. Despite the capacity to produce by the use of advanced technology, the MNCs are now out to capture the market of the developing countries because of gradual contraction of the market. The crisis is so severe that infighting for market capturing has started amongst the MNCs themselves. They are even prepared to shift capital from their parent countries in order to sell goods at low prices. On the one hand they are weakening the indigenous industrial base of the developing countries and on the other they are causing the closure of and retrenchment in factories in the developed nations by transfer of capital. So crisis have been enhancing everywhere. There is more and more evidence of the failure of capitalism in solving the fundamental problems of a society. Thus realizing this situation attempts must be made to evoke consciousness among the workers in favour of an alternative system of society. The pre-requisite for attracting the working class towards socialism is to make them understand that the solution of problems can never be found in a capitalist system. In this respect the CITU has to play a role in arousing awareness among the working class about in a society which would in turn necessitate the prevalence of socialism.

Majumdar came down heavily upon the yielding of the BJP-led Union Government of India before the globalisation policy, which has led the common people of our country to suffer. He said that although 26 public sector organiations have been "opened up", foreign investment has not come up except in a very few areas such as software and telecommunications . But owing to unfiltered imports in these areas, the corresponding domestic industries are almost getting ruined. He cited the instance of steel in this regard. he also showed wariness about how much consciousness is being aroused among the labourers regarding the possibility of danger in the form of complete cease of the progress on growth of newer native industries in consequence to liberalisation of the financial sector. They should also be warned about the evils of Patent Act. However, the differences in consciousness between the leaders or members of CITU and the general workers are leading to certain laggards in making the workers understand about all these things. Majumdar also mentioned the sparks of resilience which have been discernible against globalisation. He said that although there is no direct involvement of international co-ordinating organisations like WFTU and ICFTU in this movement, the trade unions in different countries, which have been approved by these organizations, are actively taking part in it. Our country is, of course, no exception. He appealed to the representatives of the CITU to bring about proper co-ordination through a united movement by persistent political encouragement of the workers' awareness along with the claiming of the latter's economic demands.

Chittabrata Majumdar said, that the working class has a separate entity as a group. The attacks, uncertainties and problems the workers have to face in a capitalist society have their solutions only in scientific socialism. This is not the kind of socialism of the Nehru-Indira fascist group. He said that in a capitalist system there are several ways that are open before the working class. But there is a need for theory to show the right path to the workers. So before actually taking any step, its social consequences must be thought of because certain organisations are misdirecting the labour movement through new slogans. In this situation, unity that we are finding in cases of strikes in the port and dock may receive a setback. All the unions have collectively and successfully claimed their demands from the government. This is something unique. In this way if the workers of the public sector and private sector industries can jointly carry out their struggle, then the Central Government will be forced to retrace its steps from its objective of privatisation.





search2.gif (14394 bytes)                            
Search Site                           

Ganashakti Newsmagazine
74A Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road
Kolkata,India 700016

email: mail@ganashakti.co.in
Tel: 91-33-2227-8950 Fax: 91-33-2227-6263/8090

©Ganashakti, Reproduction in any form without permission prohibited

lo.gif (5609 bytes)

Home Week Archive Portal Feedback
Content Editorial Headline World Nation Bengal Column Feature

Contact Us
Site Designed and Hosted by Arijit Upadhyay