Left Tus Plan Stir Against Divestment Policy

The Centre of Public Sector Trade Unions, an apex organisation of all public sector undertakings (PSUs) trade unions, have planned to call a strike in March against the United Front (UF) governments moves to privatise PSUs and divest some of its holdings.

Its demand include, among other things, stopping privatisation of and disinvestment in PSUs, revival of sick units and wage revision and dearness allowance for workers in sick units.

The strike will be a part of two-month-long agitation plan, which has been worked out by the National Platform of Mass Organisations (NPMO).

The NPMO was formed at the initiative of the Left parties during the previous Congress regime to fight against the liberalised economic policy. The forum was revived in November and at its national convention on December 16, it decided to oppose the non-chalant pursuation of the retrograde policy of liberalisation by the UF government in its budget and subsequent policy decisions.

 

In particular, the governments moves to privatise PSUs drew flak and the convention noted that the reckless disinvestment of PSU shares, which, if allowed to continue as per the design of the government, would end in 90 per cent of the PSU network being dismantled in the country.

The Left parties have also been opposing the governments move to disinvest PSU shares, specially from profit-making PSUs.

The NPMO plan includes state-level conventions in January and February, picketing before Central government offices on February 25 throughout the country and march to Parliament during the second part of budget session, besides strike by public sector unions.

Meanwhile, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu), the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-affiliated trade union, has planned agitations against the governments economic policies. The details of the agitation are likely to be discussed at the four-day general council meeting of the Citu, beginning on January 5 in Vishakhapatnam. The meeting will be attended by, among others, West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.