ITI Workers' Struggle: Convention against Contract Labour System and Emerging Forms of Bonded Labour

The struggle of the workers of the Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI) that started on 1st December, 2021, after 80 workers were terminated for having unionized, continues. On its 86th day of the struggle, a historic convention was organized jointly with Samyukta Horata, a coalition of Farmers, Dalit and Workers Organizations against the Contract Labour System and other forms of bonded labour opposite to the ITI Corporate Office in Bengaluru.

The Convention was attended by workers who were forced to work under such bonded labour conditions across the city – workers from public sector undertakings like HAL, sanitation workers, housekeeping and D-group workers from hospitals, workers in private companies, garment workers, etc. The convention brought together farmers, Dalits, workers, women and slum organizations, who came together to stand against such forms of bonded labour.

The Convention recognized that with the advent of liberalization in India, contract, casual and fixed-term employment were further accentuated, which were characterized by lack of job security, starvation wages and lack of social security.  It recognized that the workers engaged in contractual work and other forms of bonded labour mainly came from historically oppressed communities, including Dalits and women. The fundamental right of association for them is under serious assault. Workers are not only terminated and victimized, but also made to face criminal charges for organizing.

The Convention extended its full support not only to the ITI workers struggle, but also resolved to stand against this new form of slavery. A unanimous resolution was adopted demanding immediate abolition of the system of contract labour, outsourcing, fixed term employment and other forms of bonded labour, and that all these workers must be immediately recognized as permanent workers. A strong message was also sent against efforts to divide workers in the name of religion and caste and a resolution was made to fight in a united manner against communal forces.    

It was resolved that farmers, Dalits, workers and women organizations would stand together in this fight against such wretched practices and struggle together for working class rights, dignity, justice, democracy and socialism.