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India: Government promulgates ordinance to ban any strike in the Ordnance Factories | Statements by AITUC and by CPI

1 July 2021

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[1]

All India Trade Union Congress

Press Statement

The following statement from AITUC National Secretariat issued to press by Ms Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC today on 01st July 2021

All pretensions of the Central Government to stand for democratic principles

so soon evaporate, after berating 26th June Emergency!

Government promulgates ordinance to ban any strike in the Ordnance Factories!!

AITUC demands withdrawal of Draconian ordinance

On 30th June, the Central Government promulgated an ordinance banning any strike in the Ordnance Factories. It is known that the Modi government had plans to corporatise the 41 ordnance factories under the Ministry of Defence and 80000 workmen have consistently opposed the move: through appeals, demonstrations and even strikes. The government on its part, only made a show of discussing the question with the Federations of Defence Employees, while actually planning to hand them over to the corporates. The proverbial last straw was when the Central Labour Commissioner, without inviting the three Federations, suddenly closed the conciliation proceedings and submitted a failure report on 15th June and immediately on the next day, the Cabinet of the Central Government approved corporatization of 41 Ordnance Factories. The Defence Employees have been forced to revive their strike notice.

AITUC condemns this move of the Central Government most emphatically and stands firmly with the Defence Employees in their resolve to defend this precious asset of the nation (the Ordnance Factories) from being robbed by the agents of the Corporates - the Central Government - in broad daylight.

The Defence Employees have no interest in disrupting defence production. In fact they are urging that the national defence production capability be kept free of any obstacles from profit-mongering corporates for the sake of national security.

The AITUC demands of the Central Government to shelve their plans to corporatise 41 Ordnance Factories, which, in the long run will jeopardize our national security. AITUC Demands the withdrawal of Draconian ordinance of 30th June.

Amarjeet Kaur

General Secretary

o o

[2]

Communist Party of India
Central Office
New Delhi
Tele: 011 23235546
e-mail: cpiofindia[at]gmail.com

July 01, 2021

Press Release

CPI Demands Withdrawal of Essential Defence Services Ordinance 2021

D. RAJA, General Secretary, Communist Party of India issued the following statement today (on July 1, 2021):

The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India severely condemns the draconian Essential Defence Services Ordinance 2021, promulgated by the Modi government to crush the democratic rights of the defence civilian workers.

The defence civilian workers have been fighting to save the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories from the ill-conceived policy decision of the government to destroy the same by converting them into seven non-viable corporations. This has been done at a time when the Modi government has already declared that only four public sector units will remain in the strategic sector. Defence is one of the strategic sectors where already eight PSUs are functioning.

When the seven Ordnance Factories Corporations will be added to the existing eight DPSUs, it will become 15 DPSUs. Out of the 15, which four will remain with the government is not known. Therefore, the picture is clear that all the seven Ordnance Factories Corporations will become sick, making the path clear for the government for their privatisation and sale. Smelling this danger, the trade unions of defence civilian employees for the past more than one year are fighting to save the Ordnance Factories and 76,000 employees. However, the government has ignored all their proposals and representations. Even conciliation proceedings have been closed abruptly. In such a situation the trade unions have decided to use the last weapon of the strike.

The Party notes that it is unfortunate that the Modi government instead of dealing with the dispute under the provisions of ID Act 1947 has chosen the Ordinance route to crush the strike by incorporating draconian provisions like dismissal from service without inquiry, arrest and imprisonment up to two years for calling a strike and participating in a strike. This is draconian and against the legal right of the employees. This Ordinance is also against the various ILO conventions.

CPI condemns the draconian EDSO promulgated by the Modi government and urges upon the government to withdraw the same, start negotiations with the trade unions and reach a settlement since the Ordnance Factories are the national assets which cannot be allowed to be closed and sold in the name of corporatisation.

S/d

(Roykutty)

Office Secretary