AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 145 DATED 26.10.2010

AIBOC issued its circular No. 145 dated 26.10.2010 on national seminar on ‘effect of globalization on trade union movement’ held on the eve of AIBOC silver jubilee celebrations. We are reproducing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO:145                                       26th October, 2010

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

AIBOC SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS NATIONAL SEMINAR ON “EFFECT OF GLOBALISATION ON TRADE UNION MOVEMENT”

The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation, born on 6th of October, 1985, has stood the test of time and has emerged as the strongest supervisory cadre trade union in the financial sector.  Apart from taking care of the welfare of its members, their service conditions, salary negotiations, emoluments and perks, the AIBOC has been constantly involved in Nation building, through constructive suggestions to the policy makers on economic issues, interactions with economists and Social service activities on an on going basis.  The AIBOC has been conducting seminars regularly on issues of National importance, creating awareness and moulding public opinion on policy matters. Its Affiliates and State Units also hold such seminars, periodically. The ‘Independent Commission on Banking and Financial Policy’ report by eminent National economists, which was constituted by AIBOC in the year 2005, is a testimony of this fact.

It is in this discretion that, apart from a series of social service activities, the AIBOC thought it fit to celebrate the Valedictory function of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in a meaningful manner by conducting a National Seminar on “Effects of Globalisation, on Trade Unions”, by inviting eminent economists, academicians and trade union leaders.  Rightly so, on 22nd October 2010, a National Seminar was conducted at the ‘Satya Sai International Centre’ at New Delhi.  More than eight hundred comrades from all affiliates attended the Seminar.

Shri. Surender Singla, former minister of finance, Punjab, Dr.Kiran Bedi, former IPS Officer and Social Worker, Shri.J.D.Agarwal, Chairperson of the Indian Institute of Finance and Com.Dipankar Mukherjee, Secretary, CITU and former parliamentarian, were the eminent speakers for the seminar.

After the Ganapati Sthuti from Udayshankar and group, Com.T.N.Goel, President of the Delhi State Unit, welcomed the huge gathering which also included the past Presidents and General Secretaries, Com.S.R.Sengupta, the founder President and General Secretary, Com.Shantharaju, Com.K.D.Kheda, Com.A.K.Jana, Com.R.C.Agarwal, Com.V.Eswaran, Com.K.S.Shetty.  He traced the path of AIBOC, its struggles and sacrifices and its crucial role, since 1991 in opposing the ill-conceived policy of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation.  He then welcomed the esteemed guests of the evening.

Com.G.D.Nadaf, General Secretary in his introductory remarks, hailed the comrades who had assembled in large numbers, despite rain and said that, the AIBOC will move on despite any sort of economic, political thunderstorms of Managements or Government. He said that AIBOC has been apolitical with neither affiliation, nor opposition, to any political party and its ideology and has always strived to support the welfare of the masses through positive, progressive, sometimes critical views on policy matters with Welfare of common man being the uppermost objective. ‘We have our own ideology, resources and are led by internal leadership’ he said.  Explaining in detail the role played by AIBOC in generating opinions against the sugar-coated anti labour policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, he said that in retrospect the stand of AIBOC is vindicated. Trade Unions in India have saved the country from the financial crisis and have emerged stronger out of every crisis and instances of oppression and suppression. It is our intention to ensure development of the country through financial inclusion, reaching out to the masses in the nook and corner of the country and ensuring banking facilities to all farmers, small artisans, small traders, manufacturers and saving the rural people from the clutches of moneylenders, he said. He also said, that ideology of the Confederation is ‘Nation first, Organisation next and Individual last’ amidst thunderous applause. “The trade unions became strong during the period of oppression and suppression. More the challenges, more vibrant will the Trade Unions be” said Com.Nadaf and concluded.

As the first speaker Dr.Kiran Bedi, rose to speak, the entire auditorium exploded into a deafening round of applause.  With her self less service to the society, honesty, integrity during her tenure as Police Officer and her upright stature, she was undoubtedly the darling of the country. “Why am I here? Not as a Police Officer, but as a Social Worker”, she said. She spoke about the details of her social service activities; her involvement in vocational training to the students of “Navjyothi Indian College” where children from slums are picked and trained to become respectable citizens. “Indian unemployment is globalised”.  “Indian Poverty is globalised” she said and told the leaders and the audience that “You are not a trade union, but a Social Service Organisation.  India has a GDP of 1.5 trillion dollars. I thank you for saving us from Bankruptcy, which the Americans went into”. Later she dealt on how globalisation affects the trade unions because it creates selfish, “Profit Hungry Industrialists” who thrive in an atmosphere of exploitation, corruption, dishonesty and poverty. Quoting corruption and poverty as two challenges, she asked the trade unions and youngsters to rid the Nation of these two evils. “Build a honest Nation.  Go after the crocodiles and not poor, small fishes” she quipped. Promote education, develop vocational skills and make it your KPA, she told the trade unions. “ We need an attitude to say ‘NO’ to Corruption, ‘NO’ to Poverty and ‘YES’ to Vocational training,” she concluded.

Shri.J.D.Agarwal, renowned economist, traced the path of trade union movement and told that the late 60’s and early 70’s was the period when trade union movement was at its strongest.  They had to begin from scratch and build a movement, he said. He recalled, how, later on, the mighty textile sector trade unions, faltered and failed because of privatisation and inter union rivalry.  Globalisation began in 1978 – 79 in western European countries, when large public utility companies were privatised.  In India, it started in 1991.  After socialism failed in the USSR, both USSR and China, ventured into privatisation.  India adopted the mixed economy model. The economic, social, psychological, geographical and political complexities of our country are different in nature.  Hence, globalisation and privatisation will not succeed for a country like ours, with huge population, scattered resources, large-scale unemployment and poverty. In a globalised set up the developed nations, dump their products ruthlessly into the third world developing and underdeveloped countries. “Globalisation may provide son with shoes made in America at a cheaper price, but his father may lose his job”, he said.  Capital flows from surplus to deficit nations.  This leads to money laundering, widens inequalities of income and wealth, benefits a few and hurts many. It directly affects the indigenous economic activity and hurts trade unions, as there is no level playing field he asserted. The industrial houses deunionise, and weaken the trade unions. This is detrimental to the economy, as trade unions form a cushion between the members and the management and are an effective grievance redressal machinery. They are the positive face of democracy. In fact they are beneficial to the development of the Industry.  In this direction, he praised the AIBOC for its active role over the years.

Shri. Surender Singla, speaking in favour of globalisation and privatisation, said that LPG will not barter the sovereignty of a nation.  It will infact empower the nation and its people.  Purchasing power will increase, leading to increase in manufacturing, employment generation and consumerism. Over the years, the number of cars, telephones, mobiles, gas connections, travel by aeroplane has increased. The boom in the IT and BT sector has also led to the all-round development of trade, commerce, manufacturing and infrastructure. He said that, the failures and the NPA’s are more in Public Sector than in Private Sector. India has a very high savings rate and purchasing power.  This has to be invested and not wasted.  The Private Sector and MNC’s can do it more profitably and effectively than the Public Sector. Today Indian entrepreneurs are capturing markets all over the world and growing stronger.  “The march is on. It should not be halted,” he said.  Trade Unions should change their ideology, thinking, perspectives and redefine their goals.  Else, they will not survive he said. India has a large workforce, who are doing well in all the fields, like Science, Technology, IT, BT, Law etc. If trade unions don’t change and adapt themselves to the changing scenario, they will not go far he concluded.

Later, Com.Dipankar Mukherjee, quipped at the capitalists and said that globalisation, market economy, privatisation are all fancy terms. If markets have to be free then other factors of production also have to be free.  We can’t have restrictions on only land, labour capital or organisation selectively.  “When the capital is globalised and freely moving, why not Labour be globalised and moved freely” he said.  The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing all over the world and not just in India. If globalisation was good, why is poverty, unemployment and financial crisis is becoming a global phenomenon, he questioned. He said that the new reforms affect the trade unions and hence they have to fight it tooth and nail.

The President of the evening Com.P.K.Sarkar, summed up all the issues.  He noted that the expenditure, CPI, the cost of living are all increasing, but not the real income. Farmers are continuously committing suicide.  Unemployment, contract jobs, poverty is continuously on the rise. Social security measures are not in place. To see the real India we have to go to the villages.  AIBOC stands committed to the goal of saving India, its people and the Public Character of Banks. Our ideology has been and will remain the same. We stand committed for up-liftment of the masses and the poorer people, he concluded.

Com.Harvinder Singh, Secretary of the Delhi State Unit, proposed the Vote of thanks. 

The seminar was ably compered by Com.B.S.Ravindra, Convenor of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations Committee. 

The seminar generated heated debate and ideas.  The common views of the academicians have again vindicated the stand of AIBOC and we are even more committed to reach out to the masses and strengthen the trade union movement further.

Let us March on with firm conviction that, UNITED WE SUCCEED - DIVIDED WE FALL.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY