Sept 2 strike: BMS breaks ranks with other unions

RSS affiliated labour union opts out of September 2 strike

In a rare instance of a prominent central trade union breaking ranks with other labour unions, the Sangh Parivar-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Saturday decided not to take part in an industrial strike scheduled for Wednesday. The BMS, which has favoured giving the government more time to fulfil its promises to trade unions, is India’s second-largest labour union, in terms of membership numbers.

Other trade unions claimed BMS’s absence wouldn’t significantly impact the success of the strike. The BMS has a robust cadre and strong presence in the transport, cement, jute and unorganised sectors. Its presence in key sectors such as ports and docks, public sector undertakings and steel, however, isn’t significant.

There is a likelihood that affiliates of the BMS, particularly in the transport sector in the national capital and Rajasthan, will find it hard to keep away from the strike because of local compulsions.

The last instance of a trade union opting out of a strike was in 2011. At that time, the BMS had refused to join a general strike, as other unions didn’t accommodate its concern on the schedule for the strike.

On Saturday, the BMS held its core committee meeting here. It directed all its units to withdraw their notices for the strike. In a statement, the BMS said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had been much more responsive than its predecessor, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, in looking into a 10-point demand charter of trade unions.

At a meeting of 11 central trade unions on Friday, the BMS had suggested calling off the planned strike, following the government’s assurances, and offering a six-month implementation window. However, the 10 other trade unions decided to go ahead with the strike.

Sources in the BMS said the trade union preferred giving the government time till at least the winter session of Parliament to bring about amendments to existing laws to deliver on its promises. These include increasing the bonus ceiling and the eligibility limit, a new formula to considerably increase minimum wages, expansion of the social security net, and labour law reforms through a tripartite mechanism.

The BMS said trade unions had first put forth the charter in 2009. Following strikes in 2012 and 2013, the UPA government had constituted a group of ministers to look into the issue, but reneged on its promise. Trade unions have continued their struggle in the past year. On May 26, these entities met to announce a strike on September 2. On May 25, the government set up a committee to look into the matter; the panel was headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The committee held discussions with trade unions on July 19, after which the prime minister, invited trade union leaders for tea at his official residence.

Detailed discussions were again held on August 26-27.

“Since the government has come forward with positive assurances on our basic demands and assured us to continue dialogue, BMS decides to defer the strike for the time being,” said Virjesh Upadhyay, general-secretary of BMS. Organising secretary Pawan Kumar said for the first time, the government had agreed in writing to look into the 10 point charter. “We believe in responsive cooperation. The BMS stands for labour issues and not labour politics,” he said.

Apart from outreach by senior ministers, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including party president Amit Shah, have kept communication channels open with the BMS and other Sangh affiliates such as the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, through the past few months. In the first year of the NDA government, these organisations had complained their concerns were ignored.

BMS sources recounted how the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) wasn’t part of a joint action in 2009, and how other trade unions kept the BMS out of a strike called by them in 2011.

INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy said, “It is unfortunate that they (BMS) have opted out. But this is not the last of our joint actions. We hope they will continue to be part of the joint forum.” The All India Trade Union Congress’s D L Sachdev said: “Let them (BMS) differ on this particular matter. But we appeal to them to maintain unity among trade unions and work together in the future.”

INTUC, the largest trade union, has strong presence in the coal and steel sectors, as well as in public sector undertakings, while the AITUC has significant presence in the coal, ports and docks, banking, engineering and auto segments in the private sector. The Hind Mazdoor Sabha is the key labour union in railways and ports and docks.