Joint Press Statement by Trade Unions of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister’s statement irresponsible – Trade Unions
• Corporate-friendly policies led to factory closures
• Trade unions are a constitutional right; attack on them is harmful for democracy
Lucknow, May 19, 2026
Trade unions have strongly condemned the statement made yesterday by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at a newspaper event, in which he blamed trade unions for shutting down industries and pushing workers to the brink of starvation. Various labour organisations termed the remark completely irresponsible and strongly condemned it.
Comment made by the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 18 May 2026
“Trade union leaders do no work; they roam around carrying bags on their shoulders and spreading disturbance. They fill their own homes through collections while pushing labourers towards starvation. Kanpur is a clear example. Trade union leaders became MPs and ministers, but labourers were pushed to the verge of starvation.”
In a press statement issued today, the trade unions said that the right to form trade unions was granted after long struggles by capitalism itself to establish industrial peace so that production could improve in a harmonious environment and a safe and prosperous workforce could function effectively. In India, workers first received this right in 1926 through the law for the formation of trade unions, and under Article 19 of the Constitution, forming trade unions is a fundamental right. In this context, the Chief Minister’s statement is against the Constitution and harmful to democracy.
Labour leaders said that the reality of the Kanpur example cited by the Chief Minister is that the mills of National Textile Corporation and British India Corporation in Kanpur were closed by the Government of India to create a market for Reliance Industries textiles. People would be surprised to know that for 12 years workers were paid full wages without production. Later, the BJP government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee completely shut these companies and sold their lands to real estate developers. This did not happen only in Kanpur but across the country under the Bharatiya Janata Party government. Even today, under the National Democratic Alliance government, official reports show that lakhs of industries have shut down due to recession, demonetisation and faulty GST policies.
Labour leaders said industries did not close because of trade unions; rather they weakened due to neoliberal economic policies, pressure of privatisation, lack of investment, rising costs and mismanagement. Trade unions exist to protect workers’ rights, ensure dignified wages and guarantee job security. In many cases unions have helped save industries because a secure and satisfied workforce strengthens production.
They added that in Uttar Pradesh workers are forced to work in conditions resembling modern bonded labour. Amendments to the Factories Act increased working hours to 12. Through the new labour codes, minimum wages, social security and collective bargaining rights have been taken away. For the past 12 years the state government has not revised minimum wages and admitted this mistake in its notification issued on April 17, 2026. The Chief Minister had announced during the Noida workers’ movement that a wage board would be formed in May, honorariums of Anganwadi and ASHA workers would be increased, and wages of outsourced workers would be raised, but none of this has happened. Blaming trade unions is an attempt to divert attention from real economic and policy failures, which the Uttar Pradesh government should reconsider.
This statement was issued by Chandrashekhar from AITUC, Premnath Rai from CITU, Avinash Pandey from HMS, Dileep Srivastava from INTUC, Engineer Durga Prasad, Dinkar Kapoor from Workers Front, Dhaniram Shramik from Samajwadi Mazdoor Sabha, Pramod Patel, Naumilal, Neetu Pal from Domestic Workers Union, and Babita from Anganwadi Union.