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In the very year of its birth, the management of Hindmotor factory sought permission from the Government to lay-off a number of workers. SSKU decided to oppose this move. CITU kept silent and thus indirectly helped the management. SSKU launched a concerted propaganda against the lay-off among the workers on one hand and continued to wage a legal battle on the other. At last the prayer for lay-off was turned down by the Labour Tribunal. In retaliation the management deprived the workers of 28 days’ leave in the period 1999-2001.They did it by forcibly keeping the factory open on scheduled holidays. From September 2001, the management effected the "Freeze of DA", i.e., the actual DA has remained elusive to the workers till date. In this case, too, CITU helped the management in an indirect path. Keeping harmony with its stated position on these issues, SSKU started opposing this vicious move of the management and filed a case in the Labour Court. The case still continues. It has already become a glaring example of procrastination of the Labour Court.
In 2002, with the objective of implementing VERS, the management decided to transfer many workers illegally to far-away places of the country. As a result, about 1400 workers were compelled to accept VERS. Despite an agreement with CITU, 250 of the remaining “Badli” workers were debarred from permanency. Wages began to be irregular. Till date the wages of the workers are deferred by a month. In 2003, the management stopped paying the wages and bonus of the workers before the pujas. During this entire period, SSKU has continued its propaganda against the repression let loose by the management and held fast to its struggles both in the factory and in the Court of Law.
In the year 2003, SSKU won the sole Bargaining Agent Election by securing 52% votes. The day after the victory, the management once again resorted to illegal transfer of the workers with a view of enforcing VERS. Although the target was 1400, only 250 workers could be compelled to embrace VERS. SSKU placed its Charter-of-Demands in March 2004. That very year, SSKU won a crucial victory by forcing the management to recall the order of illegal transfer of 100 workers by means of a fierce and determined struggle.
On 18th March 2005, SSKU won the Sole Bargaining Agent election for the second time with a much better margin, i.e., by securing 62% of votes. After this victory, a section of SSKU leadership including its President, Mr. Gurudas Dasgupta began to fear the increasing power of the fighting workers and as a result began to collude with the management. They violated all the rules and regulations of the Union and defied all norms of democratic functioning of the Union. The management, having received the green signal from this section of the leadership, wasted no time to swoop on the fighting workers. 124 workers belonging to the struggling section of SSKU were served with charge-sheets and were temporarily dismissed. The workers very soon sent a deputation to lodge their protest and in retaliation, the management forced 13 workers into idleness, depriving them of their right to work. The workers stood united in resistance.
In January 2006, although 127 workers including 13 Badli workers were reinstated in their job under the leadership of the struggling section of SSKU, the charge-sheets served against them have not yet been withdrawn.
On 29th April 2006, the Annual General Meeting of the Union was held at ‘Ganabhavan’, Uttarpara, having agendas against the collusion of the opportunist leaders of the Union with the management. In a meeting of about 1500 workers, Mr. Gurudas Dasgupta was removed from the post of President. A new Executive Committee was formed by electing a more capable leader, Mr. Shankar Chakraborty as the President of the Union. On 25th June 2006 a ‘Gana Convention’ was organized at the same venue demanding the settlement of Charter-of-Demands and to resolve the problem of the Thika workers. Mr. Nabarun Bhattacharrya, the famous literatteur, Mr.Suvendu Dasgupta, the economist and Mr. Partha Sarathi Sengupta and Mr. Joymalya Bagchi, both renowned lawyers of Kolkata High Court were some of the celebrities present at the convention. The convention announced a "March to the Writers’ Building" demanding the intervention of Chief Minister with regard to the problems of the workers of Hindustan Motors and Titagarh Wagon Ltd., as well as those of the teachers of the Hindmotors High School. The focus, of course, was on the reinstatement of the 68 dismissed workers of TWL to their own jobs. About 500 workers participated in the “March to Writers’ Building” programme of 24th July. The Union’s memorandum was received by the Personal Assistant of the Labour Minister, Mr. Soumendranath Banerjee. He assured the delegation that he would lose no time in solving the problems. But still no initiative on behalf of the government is visible.
At this juncture, when the workers were on the tenterhooks awaiting the response of the government, the TWL management dismissed Mr. Sarbananda Banerjee, the Secretary of SSKU from his job. And this was done in gross violation of the factory rules. The workers were very quick to respond to this wanton step taken by the management. They started an indefinite strike in the factory the day after Mr. Banerjee was dismissed. Their demand was not only confined to the reinstatement of their Secretary alone, but included the reinstatement of the 68 workers who were sacked by the management. CITU supported the strike call on the first day as a ploy to deceive the workers. But on the 2nd day, with the active support of CITU, a huge police force swooped on the striking workers at the factory gate at 6:00 am in the morning. Police came and lathi-charged at random. Three of the workers were injured. 29 Union members including the working President of the Union were arrested.
Significantly, this repression unleashed by the state and its lackeys, instead of demoralizing, increased the spirit of the workers many times. The Union could develop a powerful propaganda movement in the area surrounding the factory, including Hindmotor and Uttarpara. Preperations were afoot for “Rail Roko” on 4th August. Sensing that the situation was going beyond their control, the local administration hurriedly arranged a meeting between the Union and the management on 3rd. August. At the meeting, the SDPO, the DLC, the local MLA, all were in unison to agree to the justness of the demands; particularly reinstatement of Mr. Sarbanada Banaerjee and the 68 others dismissed workers. The management of TWL assured all present at the meeting that the company would clearly state its position by 7th of August. Under the circumstances, the Union withdrew its one week long programme of strike. The "Rail Roko" was also postponed.
But the management of TWL did not keep word. It kept maintaining an ominous silence. At this situation, directed by the Labour Minister, the Labour Commissioner of West Bengal intervened and on 21st of August, a tripartite meeting was held at his office. But there, too, the management very arrogantly refused to budge even an inch. Thus the meeting failed to yield any results.
The situation still remains unchanged. Mr. Sarbananda Banerjee, the Secretary of the Union and the 68 other workers still being debarred from entry into the factory, the workers are organizing bigger movement with grim determination. As a first step towards this direction, a vigorous effort is underway to launch a more intense movement unitedly with other struggling unions of West Bengal.
These programmes are ahead...
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