Central
Trade Unions reiterate the call for countrywide general strike on September 2
against the "anti-worker and anti-people policies" of the government
and in view of its "utterly unresponsive and undemocratic attitude"
As many as 10 central trade unions will go ahead with the general strike on
Friday saying the government gave no heed to their 12-point charter of demands
and is continuing with unilateral labour reforms.
CTUs claimed that over 15 crore workers are likely to participate in the strike and it will be bigger than the one held last year as members of BMS will also support them.
RSS-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is the only major trade union which has opted out of strike – like last year – which was also held on September 2, in view of the assurances given by the government.
Some leaders of BMS have decided not
to go on strike. But its state units would participate in the strike. Workers
will give a befitting reply to the dubious activities inspired by the
government,” CITU General Secretary Tapen Sen said here in a joint press
conference by 10 CTUs here.
CTUs reiterate the call for
countrywide general strike on September 2 against the “anti-worker and
anti-people policies” of the government and in view of its “utterly
unresponsive and undemocratic attitude”, Sen added.
All India Trade Union Congress
(AITUC) Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said the unions view the announcements made by
Ministers’ panel, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, as eyewash.
“It is like cheating the people,”
she said, adding that this time the number will be bigger than 15 crore who
participated in the general strike last year and more than 10 states will have
bandh-like situation.
Strike is going to be complete in
industrial sectors such as transport, financial, power, coal, textile, port and
dock, automobile, steel, oil, defence production, scheme, education and Central
and State government employees, Kaur added.
Referring to BMS decision not to
participate in the strike, Kaur said: “Government has not had a single meeting
with the CTUs in over a year and is talking to those (BMS) who have not given a
strike notice.”
Indian National Trade Union Congress
(INTUC) Vice President Ashok Singh said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his fight is with poverty, but
it seems his fight is with the poor in this country. The government’s decision
are totally pro-capitalist.”
CTUs expressed dismay over “utterly
negative” attitude of the government on basic demands of workers on minimum
wages as per consensus formulation of Indian Labour Conference, on universal
social security including pension for all workers including those in
unorganised sector, among others.
They added that government is dragging
its feet over the mass scale contractorisation of permanent and perennial work.
Attacking the government’s
initiatives on labour reforms, the unions said: “All these proactive
initiatives militate against the basic interests and rights of the working
people. Even the non-striking CTU (BMS) also officially recorded its
opposition.”