New Forms and Strategies of Working Class Resistance needed in the age of Globalization

 June 17, 2012. ‘POLEMIC’, a discussion forum of intellectuals, activists and students organized a symposium on‘Working class movement in the age of Globalization: Problems and Challenges’ in 'Brihanmumnbai Union of Journalists',D.N. Road on Sunday. Milind Ranade of Sarva Shramik Sangh, Sataym of Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, Ajay Swami of Delhi Metro Kamgar Union, Naveen Kumar of Karawal Nagar Mazdoor Union and Abhinav Sinha editor of hindi monthly newspaper 'Mazdoor Bigul' were the speakers on the occasion. Prashant, the convener of ‘Polemic’, Mumbai, while welcoming the audience , said that Polemic’s aim is to initiate an open ended discussion and debate on the real issues pertaining to the progressive movement and ideology today, and the problems of building a new revolutionary socialist alternative to the present oppressive and exploitative capitalist system. Problems and challenges before the working class movement in the age of globalization is surely one such issue. Introducing the topic Prashant said that during the period of last 5 to 6 years one can see that the lull prevalent in the working class movement for more than the last two decades has been breaking and working masses, especially unorganized workers, are forced to take to the streets due to their precarious living conditions. But on the other hand we also find the lack of a clear understanding, programs and conscious effort to organize this unorganized working population. Conventional trade union movements are still not being able to think beyond the old forms and strategies; consequently, the    working class movements have been mainly reduced to the element of spontaneity. Today it is necessary to think about the new forms of organizing this working class movements. After this short introduction speakers were invited to present their views on the topic one by one.

First of all Satyam from Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, who had been directly involved in the recent Maruti workers' struggle in Manesar, was invited to put his views. Satyam, while presenting a picture of the grass root conditions in the movement of Maruti workers said that it was a positive development that workers are taking to the street spontaneously. However, if one looks at the ground realities, they find that the demands of the unorganised workers, who fought most actively and most resolutely were completely marginalized; there was no direct involvement of the fighting workers in making decisions regarding the movement; nothing was done to advance the political conscious of workers. There were also sufficient chances to extend the movement to the nearby automoblie factories, as workers in these factories were reeling under the same intolerable conditions. But in this regard as well nothing had been done. The central trade union federations affiliated with various electoral parties could be held as the main culprits for these shortcomings and limitations. Thus, instead of getting overwhelmed in the flow of spontaneous movements and celebrating them uncritically, it is necessary to channalize these momentary outbursts in the proper direction through conscious effort.

Milind Ranade of Sarva Shramik Sangh and Kachara Vahtuk Shramik Sangh presented his views on the topic. He told that for many years unions of the parmanent workers have refrained from organizing the unorganized workers with them and left them completely on the mercy of Fascists-Corporatists Trade Unions who devide them on religion-region-caste for their electoral political benefits. Together with this he also told that  the process of organizing different types of unorganized workers has been started, like rag pickers, domestic workers, construction workers etc.

Ajay Swami of Delhi Metro Kamgar Union made the audiences aware of the plight  of the workers working in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, a symbol of the so-called India Inc. He told that in one of the premier enterprises of India all the labour laws are being flouted openly. Most of the work in Delhi Metro is of parmanent nature, but 90 percent of it is getting done on the contract basis. Contract companies also charge illegally Rs. 25 to 30 thousands for employing the workers. Heavy presence of security force and vigilence by CCTV cameras makes anykind of union activity almost impossible. Interestingly, the union of parmanent employees of the Metro Rail, affiliated with CITU, refused to organize the unorganized unions. Thus unorganized workers of Delhi Metro organized themselves under the banner of Delhi Metro Kamgar Union.

Naveen Kumar, Karawal Nagar Mazdoor Union, Delhi, also shared his views, who is working on the concept of organizing  the unorganized working masses in their residential areas. In Karawal Nagar Industrial Area around 2 to 2.5  lakhs of workers live whose occupational profile is highly diversified, from work of manufacturing of aeroplane spare parts to factories of pickles and spices. These workers do not get any kind of rights given by Indian state and constitution. Such a huge population can be organised in their residential areas instead of their occupation, factory or sector.

In the end Abhinav Sinha, editor of hindi workers' monthly 'Mazdoor Bigul', by presenting a world-historical account of the process of informalization said that after the crisis of 1973, when the world capitalist system hit a bottle neck within the boundaries of protectionism, it became necessary to make the flow of capital unhindered across nations and to make the labour laws flexible. Technological advancement and information revolution played an important role in this process. Thus it became possible to disintegrate the production process of the large scale industries, which were characteristic of the phase of Fordism when thousands of workers used to work on the same factory floor, into small units spread across the globe. Consequently, one can witness a notable decline in the factory-based union struggles. But the model of modern capitalist urban planning, inseparably associated with this process of informalization, concentrated the working masses in large numbers in their place of residence. Thus today it is not only imperative to organize unorganized working class on the basis on their neighbourhoods, but it also provides huge opportunities. Thus neibhourhood-based unions are the need of the time, which in no way excludes the concept of factory based unions.

 After presentaion by the speakers an open discussion session was organized. In the discussion including Pravin Nadkar of IFTU, Sanjay Singhvi of TUCI, S K of Ladhaku Garment Kamgar Sangathana, Vijay Kulkarni of Lal Nishan (Leninwadi), S.N. Gohil of CPI(ML) Liberation, Uddipta of IIt Bombay, Deepti Gopinath, Shirish Medhi and many other activists, intellectuals and students participated