Successful strike by NTPC workers

Voice of Electricity Workers

April- June 2001

Successful strike by NTPC workers

On 15-3-2001, NTPC workers observed a day’s token strike. The CITU unions and the three independent recognized trade unions functioning in NTPC had called the strike jointly. The strike was to protest against the anti-public sector power policies, against the attack on trade union rights and against the anti worker long-term wage settlement.

It may be recalled that on 25-1-2001, a long term wage settlement was signed between the management of the NTPC and INTUC, BMS and AITUC unions. The CITU along with the independent trade unions did not sign the settlement, demanding parity between the officers and workers in terms of parameters and not in terms money. But, the management in connivance with the aforesaid central trade unions deprived the workers of their genuine and principled demand.

The workers fully supported the principled stand of the CITU. They firmly held that if the CITU had not taken the firm stand, then whatever benefit has been achieved would not have been possible and those unions would have signed the settlement with much lesser benefits.

In order to terrorise the leaders and workers, the NTPC management, with the ulterior motive to thwart the strike, organized notorious activities. The General Manager issued administrative instruction to all the NTPC project management to “make preparations for taking strict administrative and disciplinary actions, including punitive deduction of 7 days wage for one day’s strike, suspensions, dismissals including discharge simplicitors.”

In the face of the terror tactics and allurement of the management, the independent trade unions backed out from the strike decision. However, taking into consideration the mood of the workers and future implications for the trade union movement, the CITU unions decided to go ahead with the strike.

Braving the atrocities of the management the CITU unions carried out campaign for the strike. The response was varied. Some projects witnessed massive strike. Some partial and yet others observed solidarity programmes. It is a matter of satisfaction and encouragement that overwhelming majority of NTPC power stations witnessed some form of action including strike on 15-3-2001.

The strike has brought immense prestige for the CITU unions amongst the workers of NTPC.

The management has become panic at the growing popularity of the CITU AMONGST THE NTPC workers. Now, they have launched a naked attack against the CITU activists. Charge sheets are issued in large –scale to the CITU leaders on fabricated charges.

Given the solid support extended by the workers the CITU unions are sure that in the end the management shall have to accept the reality, honour the will of the mass of the workers and shall be compelled to give up the vindictive path and come to honourable settlement with the CITU unions. But that shall not come so easily. The CITU unions will have to mobilize the mass of the workers and thwart attack of the management.

Courtesy: The Working Class- April 2001


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