IFTU NC Statement

28th of March: Day 1 of the 2-day All India Strike

 

Countrywide on March 28, workers of various sectors and in various industries came forward to hold a strike from work in response to the 2-day Strike Call of all Central Trade Unions of the country except the BMS. The strike call is part of the fightback of the working class against the pro-owner 4 Labour Codes, against the pro-corporate policy of privatization of all PSUs, and against the declared policy of monetizing all public sector lands.

In all parts of the country, trade unions, supported by other people’s organizations, led marches, rallies, gate picketings and rasta rokos in support of the strike.

Government banks were mostly closed or crippled as employees responded to the call for a strike against bank privatization, even though officers were not on strike.

In Kehelgaon NTPC ( Bihar), 90% of the contract workers( total are 4500) and a good number of the total 450 permanent workers struck work on the call of the two IFTU unions of permanent and contract workers.

In NTPC Ramagundam ( Telengana), the contract workers went on strike and held a huge gathering at the gate in response to the strike call by the Joint Action Committee of which the IFTU union is also a member.

The IFTU union in Uranium Corporation of India LTD( Jharkhand) organized a black badge day for all workers.

The coal workers of Singareni Collieries Ltd observed a strike on the call of the JAC of trade unions, especially against the commercialization of 4 coal blocks. Rallies and marches were held by IFTU and other unions at the mine gates.

In West Bengal, rail and road blockades dotted the entire state.

In West Bengal, several jute mills are anyway closed due to government policies. In the Dalhousie jute mill, workers struck work on the call of the IFTU union and management tried hard but could just show 20% attendance, with some workers hired for a few hours from outside. IFTU organized a  rally of the workers here. The Angus jute mill was completely closed. In private companies like Jayshree Insulators, IFTU organized a strike and there was marginal attendance only. In Hindustan Glass, IFTU also observed the strike. JST& HNG participated in a rail roko program organized by IFTU at Rishra.

Bank strike was cent percent, while in Kolkata and in  Uttarpara, there was a good effect of the strike.

In Siliguri, almost the entire market was closed.

In Bihar, the IFTU auto workers union in Sasaram and Dehri -on -sone held a good rally after a complete auto strike. In Muzzafarpur too, motor workers took out a rally under the IFTU banner and observed the strike.

In Hyderabad, the industrial workers under various unions held a joint rally of over 500 workers and held a demonstration at the Labour Dept’s RLC office.

In Andhra Pradesh, IFTU held a dharna and rally in Vijayawada today as part of a nationwide general strike.  IFTU state presidents P. Prasad and K. Polari participated.

The Vizag steel plant has been targeted for privatization by the Central Government. Here, the strike was 85% successful. In  Vizag, a bandh was observed against the steel plant privatization today. In the Gajuwaka region,  shops were closed and transportation both public and private was severely disturbed.

AS jute mill in the Visakha district, Salooru jute mill in Vizianagaram district, Neelam jute mill in Srikakulam district were closed due to strike.

In Punjab, IFTU held a huge demonstration in Nawashahr. Road transport workers observed a full strike and in many places construction workers held protests.

In Delhi,  IFTU and activists of other trade unions led marches in the Okhla Industrial Area and in Mayapuri Industrial Area to implement strikes. In Mayapuri, owners themselves had shut down 80% of the industries. In the Mongolpuri industrial area, IFTU along with PDSU activists and Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan were part of the joint rally that marched through the area implementing the strike. Rallies and marches were also held in several parts of the city, including Jhilmil industrial area.

In Odisha, IFTU along with other unions held a demonstration at Paralakhemundi, the dist headquarters of Gajapati.

Reports of strikes in big and small mills, roadblocks and sit-ins are still pouring in. IFTU NC salutes the working class of the country for the spirited and wide response on the first day of the strike. This is when the new Codes take away the right to protest altogether; in maximum places, the jobs of workers are contractual or temporary and management, administration and even the government have been threatening the workers against going on strike.

I FTU NC calls on workers throughout the country –
Strike Work tomorrow! Come on the Streets Again Tomorrow, the second day of the Strike!

Repeal 4 Labour Codes
Take Back PSU Privatization/ Land Monetization Policies
Fight to Regularize Jobs
Ensure Minimum Wages. Ensure Job Security!

Aparna, Pres
B. Pradeep, Gen Sec
National Committee, IFTU