ITI Workers' Struggle Continues
The struggle of ITI Workers in Bengaluru who were refused employment on 1 December 2021 has entered into its 50th day. These workers who have worked with ITI Ltd. for long periods ranging from 3 to 35 years were refused employment for the sole reason that they unionized and sought their legitimate rights. Despite working for such long periods, these workers who are predominately women and Dalit workers, are termed contract workers and denied their rights.
The struggle of the ITI workers is setting an example for working class struggles against the slavery of workers through the contract labour system being perpetuated by the Government. The struggle has received support from workers across industries, who despite working for decades have been deprived of their rights through the use of the baneful contract labour system – the hospital workers of Victoria Hospital and NIMHANS, “contract” workers of HAL, among others. Sanitation workers in Bengaluru, who fought against and defeated the contractor mafia to be recognized as employees under the direct payment system, are not only a source of great support, but also of inspiration to these workers. The struggle has received support from various unions including the Domestic Worker Union, womens’ organizations including Gamana Mahila Sangha, Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Vokkutta (a coalition of womens’ organizations), organizations working in slums including Slum Janara Sanghatane, Mahila Slum Janara Sanghathane, Dalit Organizations and Student organizations, among others.
The struggle of ITI workers has also received support from across the country. An online campaign organised for their support began with an online protest on 2 January 2022. AICCTU units across the country held protests in support of the workers – across Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and Delhi. Messages of solidarity with ITI workers were sent from students, army veterans and peoples’ movements.
This was followed by a Twitter Storm on 4 January 2022. The campaign used the hashtag #Justice4ITIWorkers highlighting the struggles of the ITI Workers. The online campaign witnessed participation of a large number of members of peoples’ movements and civil society, who univocally demanded that ITI Ltd should end its anti-labour activities and reinstate all workers. The campaign also garnered global solidarity, with trade unions from Greece, Maldives, Bangladesh, Morocco, Palestine and many European countries expressing their support to the struggle of ITI workers.
The ITI workers struggle has also seen the coming together of class solidary against communalism and patriarchy. On 29 December 2021, the ITI workers observed Vishwamanava Dhina (Day of the Universal Citizen) on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the poet Kuvempu. Writer and activist Dr. Du Saraswathi and activist Dr. Manjunath spoke of the values of Kuvempu, especially in light of increasing communalization in today’s times. The workers vowed to fight against communalization and to stand together in class solidarity. The words of Bhagat Singh rang strong - “class consciousness is the main tool which can help in preventing riots”.
On 3 January 2022, the struggle brought in the new year by remembering Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh, the first women teachers in modern India. Discussions took place on how patriarchy could be addressed, at home, in the workplace and in the public and political sphere. Dr L. Hanumanthaiah, Rajya Sabha MP visited the protest site and assured the workers of his support. He has also written to the Minister of Labour and Minister of Communication seeking intervention.
On 14 January 2022, social activist Medha Patkar visited the protest site and expressed her strong solidarity with the struggle. Speaking of the fundamental right to unionize, she said that the National Alliance of People's Movements fully supports the ITI workers’ struggle and will launch agitations in various parts of the country in support.
The issue of ITI workers has also been raised in the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Public Sector Undertakings and a response has been sought for from the Ministry of Telecommunications, Government of India. The Central Chief Labour Commissioner, New Delhi has taken cognizance of this issue, and organised a meeting between the Union and ITI management on 7 January 2022.
The struggle of the ITI workers is not merely about these 80 workers, but poses a strong challenge to the current dispensation that believes that workers are dispensable. Workers are the producers of wealth and they are entitled to be treated as such. The ITI Workers are determined to continue their struggle against the illegalities of the Management of ITI and a clear message is sent out against the baneful and highly unjust practice of “contract labour”.