The issue of a few employees’ organizations giving a call to boycott the elections and the State Election Commissioner Ramesh Kumar writing a letter to the employees has become a sensation. There has been a conflict between the government and SEC on the conduct of elections and an inquiry is also going on in the High Court. In between the tussle, SEC announced the schedule for the elections. Government representatives like YCP leaders opposed the move. The employees’ associations also jumped into the scene and decided to boycott the election. This is nothing but a revolt against the system. It can be understood if the employees take up the fight for their rights but trying to get appreciation from someone has led to a discussion.
In fact, never in the past employees’ associations have reacted like this. The associations saved their value during the agitations of the division of the state, Samaikyandhra. There were instances when they talked against the government. Few instances have to be referred –
Many trade union leaders during the Telangana movement. Some of them got positions, some did not. However, despite the positions, most of the leaders did not compromise on the issues of trade unions.
Unions raised their voice on the PRC under a leader like KCR who is known as a person who never allows his opponents to counter him.
There was also talk that in the previous GHMC elections, the government had excluded teachers and employees of certain departments from electoral duties, with concerns that previous election promises had not been fulfilled and that opposition to the government would continue to grow.
It has been reported that KCR has also reviewed the PRC to woo employees again in the upcoming elections. Which means if governments have both fear and respect the systems would run smoothly. Many employees’ unions in Telangana are fighting for their demands, regardless of position. In many union elections, the leaders other than the ruling party are winning.
There is also an opinion that there will be no opposition from the unions in the upcoming Nagarjuna Sagar by-election. The same happened in the case of Dubbaka bypolls. There is talk that they will give more priority to fighting for their rights and demands.
In a recent incident in Tamil Nadu where a BJP leader along with a ruling party leader allegedly threatened a government employee and the unions acted as if they gave an ultimatum to the government. At the same time, those who undertook relief work during the floods and those who performed duties during the Covid fought for additional allowances and in Kerala.
Whether it is in undivided AP or in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, in many states, the leaders of the unions get the appointment of the CMs of the respective states immediately.
During the RTC strike in Telangana, there were differences between employees’ associations as there were criticisms that few organizations supported a ruling party leader. There were rumours that some of the secrets of the employee’s leader would come out hence he surrendered to the government but the RTC strike continued as usual. However, finally, there was a question mark on the existence of the unions itself.
Statements of the employees’ leaders indicate, their behaviour appears to be either they are trying to get some post or benefit in one form or the other and hence they were talking in support of the government. They are also criticizing the opposition parties like the ruling party leaders. The unions which did not open their mouths on the issues like the PRC, the abolition of the CPS policy, DA payments, transfers, delays in promotions, pending payroll payments, etc are as if they want to say, touch us first, if you want to attack the government.