UNIONS AS A VEHICLE FOR POLITICAL LIBERATION

By Spandan Pratyush, AIITEU Delhi NCR

On the occasion of May Day, the union held a online study circle on the origins of May Day achieved through generational struggles for workers’ rights via trade unions.

The reading and discussion primarily gave us insights into the massive sacrifices that went into earning our present day rights as workers. We often take for granted (at-least in the formal sectors like IT) the defined workday and weekends off, whereas looking into the history of the protests, strikes and struggles which earned these protections, one realises the importance of organised political action by workers.

The insights by Marx and others in its historic reference focused not only on understanding the role of unions but on the process of unionisation as well. He posits that the united demand for 8 hour workday was not possible as far as a significant workforce divided on racial basis was still in slavery, and thus the eight hour union demand was a gift of the post Civil War era and soon became an international demand. Lenin also celebrated the same and focused on the political liberation arising out of it.

Applying the same thought to the contemporary situation of India, (where a majority of workers are employed in the unorganised or informal sector) would require unions to firstly win rights, policy changes and benefits for those workers who are mostly under exploitative third party contracts.

This also builds on the idea that a union must have a political goal and integrate social struggles in order to truly unite the workers for a movement against the onslaught of big capital. The union can’t just be limited to winning some rights and protections for a certain class of workers.

Another important aspect we discussed from the reading was a struggle for reduction in working hours as unemployment and automation increase. The striking example of the case in Chicago where in less than one year after the 8 hour demand was met, a new demand for 7 hour work day was brought in against increasing unemployment levels.

We also discussed that the role of automation in any sector, should be to reduce working time; but in order to maintain or maximise profits, it results in firing of workers while working hours are maintained or increased!

This inevitably leads to additional pressures on those who are employed and reduces their bargaining power for better working conditions or wages, because of the higher unemployed force. Instead of automation bringing more transparency in the production, private profit ensures that it becomes more obscure and better technology and accumulation of data increases surveillance.

Therefore from a class perspective, it has always been relevant for the unions to demand lesser working hours. For a country like India where unemployment is at its highest and for a sector like IT which sees unprecedented growth and continuously automates not only itself but also other sectors, the understanding of the importance of unions is a top priority.

This reading and discussion was important in understanding the history of the union movement and its current relevance, and what better day than the 1st of May to do so!

Related posts:

Have you wondered about your purpose and why it is so important to figure out what it is? Do you ask? Do you know that in the recognition, you will become renewed and empowered in a way unlike any…