WBSEB WORKMEN’S UNION ON GENERAL STRIKE OF 21^ST MAY 2003

Keeping the struggling tradition of West Bengal, General strike on 2lst. May, 2003 achieved a grand success with participation of nearly 100% of working people of all levels and segments. An atmosphere of silence was observed all through the State from mountains of the Himalayas and coast of Bay of Bengal. Plantation workers of Hill and Terai as well fishermen of the Ganges and Bay of Bengal observed the strike as a mark of disdaintful disregard and stern protest against all the anti people policies of NDA Govt. at the Centre. The strike made the life of the State standstill through participation of all the workers, employees, professionals, traders, students, teachers and all other categories of people directly and indirectly affected by the anti people policies of Govt. of India adopted at the instance and dictat of IMF, World Bank and WTO spokesmen.

Electricity employees of the State was kept beyond the purview of the strike as their service was reckoned as emergency one. But the electricity employees of the State in general irrespective of trade union or organizational identity did not prefer to be isolated from the largest ever action programme architected by the working class of India. Since l5th. July,2002 convention at Delhi the electricity workers of West Bengal took oath of struggle in the month of August, statewide convention in November, 8^th. January, programme of Satyagraha was participated en mass along with wider section of toiling people. 7^th. April, strike against attempt to pass the electricity bill in the Parliament boasted the fighting spirit of electricity workers of West Bengal through 100% participation in the strike.

WBSEB workmen’s union proposed the convenor of the state chapter of National Co-ordination Committee of electricity employees and engineers to take part in the 21^st. May strike jointly. The convenor of NCOEEE had discussion with all the constituent organisations. It was a matter of pride for West Bengal that all the constituents including the organisation affiliated to INTUC agreed to participate in the strike jointly. Not only silent participation but in numerous places including Bidyut Bhaban, the WBSEB Head Quarters joint gate meetings and demonstration against the draconian policies of Govt. of India was organised. It was decided that as the 21^st. May strike being organised against the policies of Govt. of India, no step towards disruption of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of electricity would be adopted. The workers and engineers concerned with activities directly will undertake their respective jobs wearing protest badges in all the shifts. All other workers engineers and officers will participate in the strike directly. Offices of WBSEB and WBPDCL had a solitary look all through the day. In all the District H.Q. and Bidyut Bhaban there were pickets to request the workers and employees to join the strike. Our organizers participating in the picketing had no job at all as none of the workers, engineers and officers approached to take entry into the offices. The strike was spontaneous and total successful. As all the factories, Public transportation system, commercial complexes became standstill the demand of electricity in the State had fallen to the tune of 1500 MW by the peak hours of the day.

The role of Beurgoise newspapers and audiovisual media was most obnoxious. Practically they became crazy on observing the magnanimity and spontaneity of the strike. The Reporters and Photographers allegiant to capitalist lobby was in search of critics of the strike action.

WBSEB workmen’s union greeted the all section of toiling people and electricity workers, employees and engineers for widest participation in the 21^st. May strike.

Shri M. Chatterjee, Convener, NCCOEE, (West Bengal Chapter) greeted all the members of the constituent Organisations of NCCOEE for participation in the Nationwide Strike against the antipeople policy including Electricity Bill-2003 .