The month of February 2004 witnessed a unique unity of the working class in India. In spite of the ideological differences five central trade unions brought together 5.5 lakh coal workers to protest the government’s contractualisation/ privatisation move. Massive joint mobilisation of the workers at the colliery level all over India forced the government to come forward for negotiations with unions and then to agree to almost all the genuine demands raised by the unions.

Coal Unions force NDA Govt To Retreat Privatisaion, Outsourcing and Closures Halted

In the face of rising tempo of joint preparation for six day strike throughout the entire coal industry countrywide, and massive joint mobilisaion of coal workers at the colliery level all over the country, the Government of India had to come forward for negotiations with the unions and had to make a retreat, may for the time being, on almost all the issues on which they were displaying arrogance earlier.

pp.148, The Working Class,

Vo.34, No.6, February 2004

Week-Long Strike by Coal Workers

Five major Coal Workers Federations-Indian National Mine Workers Federations (INTUC), Akhil Bharatiya Khada Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Indian Mine Workers Federation (INTUC), Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HMS) and All India Coal Workers Federation (CITU) - in their meeting held on 28 December, 2003, in Dhanbad, decided that more than 6 lakh coal workers will launch seven days strike struggle from 23 February, 2004. The strike call has been given demanding withdrawal of Coal Mines Nationalisation (Amendment) Bill, 2000, stopping outsourcing in coal mines and some other demands of the coal workers.

pp.1, Trade Union Record,

 Vol.62, No:1, 5 January 2004

Coal Federations Decide One Week Strike

They have drawn the attention of the Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Coal to the fact that a tripartite agreement was signed on 1st August, 2002 and the one week long strike of coal workers was deferred. They have stated that not a single clause of the agreement signed in presence of Chief Labour commissioner (central) has been implemented and that the Department of Coal did not pay any heed to the request of trade unions in coal industry despite repeated reminders.

pp.2, HMS Bulletin,

Vol.III, No.1, January 2004

INTUC Protest Move to Wind Up Coal India

The Joint Action Committee of five central trade unions operating in the public sector companies has given a call to coal workers throughout the country to organise movement against any move by the centre to wind up coal India Ltd. (CIL) in the name of restructuring coal industry.

pp4, The Indian Worker,

Vol. XLVIII, No.1, January 1-15, 2004

Teachers in India will now be deprived of gratuity, one among the major social security benefits they enjoy. The Supreme Court while dismissing a petition of Ahmedabad Private Primary Teachers` Association delivered a ruling denying the right to gratuity to the teachers. Trade unions across the country are protesting against the new intervention of the apex court curtailing the rights of workers in organised sector

No Gratuity to Teachers - SC

The Supreme Court has ruled that teachers are not entitled to gratuity benefit because the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 does not classify them as employees. However, the apex court said the state governments could frame separate rules to extend the benefit to them.

pp14, Vishwakarma Sanket,

 Vol 12, No.2, February 2004