Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
Why in News?
It has been in the news recently for leading protests against the four new labour codes, which it views as anti-worker. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) is a prominent national trade union federation in India, closely linked to the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Organisation & Affiliation
- Founded: May 30, 1970, at the Ranji Stadium in Kolkata.
- Affiliation: Politically aligned with the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
- Membership: Estimated at approximately 6.2 million as of 2023–2024.
- Regional Strength: Maintains its strongest presence in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura, with significant bases in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Core Objectives & Ideology
- Socialism: Operates on the belief that worker exploitation can only end by socialising the means of production and establishing a Socialist State.
- Anti-Neoliberalism: Opposes imperialist globalisation, privatisation, and the "contractualisation" of regular jobs.
- Worker-Peasant Unity: Actively works with groups like the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) to build a combined front of industrial and agricultural workers.
Key Demands & Active Campaigns
- Repeal of Labour Codes: Strongly opposes the subsuming of 29 central labour laws into four new codes (on Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety).
- Minimum Wage: Demands a minimum monthly wage of ₹26,000 for all workers.
- Pension Reform: Advocates for the scrapping of the National Pension System (NPS) and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
- Public Assets: Opposes the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) and the privatisation of PSUs like Vizag Steel Plant and BSNL.
Leadership (2026–2029 Term)
- President: Sudip Dutta
- General Secretary: Elamaram Kareem
- Treasurer: M. Saibabu
- Monthly Journal: The Working Class (English) and Hindi CITU Mazdoor.
Download Pdf
