Call of the Karkhana Mazdoor Union, Punjab, Textile-Hosiery Kamgar Union, Punjab, and Naujawan Bharat Sabha
(Translation of the Call in Hindi)
Brothers and sisters,
Recently, you may have heard news of militant strikes by factory workers in cities like Noida, Manesar, Faridabad, Gurugram, etc. in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana demanding wage increases and poor working conditions. As soon as April began, a series of strikes of various types erupted in factories one after another. The sparks of these strikes have spread to cities like Lalru in Punjab, Bhiwadi and Pathri in Rajasthan, and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Even before this, workers in refineries and other industries in various parts of the country have staged major strikes demanding eight-hour workdays, wage increases, and better working conditions. Thus, after a long gap, a major and legitimate movement of workers has erupted in the country.
Backbreaking inflation had already severely impacted the plight of workers. Wages had not been increased for a long time. Workers were forced to work tirelessly for extremely low wages. Now, the illegitimate war imposed by the US and Israel on Iran has made the situation even worse. The sudden rise in inflation, exacerbated by the shortage and black marketing of cooking gas, has wreaked havoc on workers. In such circumstances, it was imperative that the government take steps to provide relief to the poor and immediately increase workers’ wages. But true to their predatory, profiteering nature, the capitalists and governments, who treat workers like mere cogs in machines, have ignored their problems and demands. Under such circumstances, workers had no choice but to stop work, strike, and take to the streets. Therefore, these strikes are completely justified. We strongly support the struggling workers and offer them a militant salute.
Under pressure from the workers’ struggle, the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments have been forced to announce a slight increase in the minimum wage. The struggling workers are unconvinced by the meager increase and remain steadfast in their struggle. Meanwhile, factory owners are unwilling to implement even this inadequate increase. Now, the capitalists and the government are making every effort to crush the workers’ struggle through brutal repression. Brutal lathi-charges are being carried out, tear gas shells are being used, and vandalism and arson are being perpetrated. Ordinary workers, activists, and leaders are being arrested. The false claim of a Pakistani connection is being spread through the lapdog media to discredit the workers’ struggle. Struggling workers and activists are being labeled urban naxals and charged with serious crimes. The public media, which provides accurate news of the strike, is being intimidated and subjected to repression. All this has once again proven that the government and police administration are not in service of the workers and laborers, but in service of the capitalists.
We strongly oppose all these repressive actions of the government, police, administration, and capitalists’ nexus to crush the workers’ struggle. We demand:
1. A minimum wage of Rs. 26,000 for eight hours of work should be implemented. Daily wages and piece rates should be fixed accordingly. Women workers should receive equal pay for equal work.
2. The eight-hour daily wage law should be strictly enforced. Forced overtime should be stopped. Double overtime payment should be made. Weekly and other holidays should be implemented.
3. All repressive measures to crush strikes should be stopped. Arrested workers, activists, and leaders should be released immediately. All unjust police cases should be dropped.
4. Contract workers, piece-rate workers, and daily wage workers should be made permanent. Working conditions should be improved. Complete protection against accidents should be provided.
5. All legal labor rights of workers should be strictly enforced, and anti-labor changes in labor laws should be repealed.
6. The government should take appropriate steps to reduce inflation.
After a long time, industrial workers have taken to the streets on such a large scale in various parts of India to demand their rights. We must strongly support this struggle. It must also reach every city, every village, and every factory. The jungle raj of capitalists and their servant governments in this country has worsened the conditions of workers. This situation must change. Only a united struggle by workers on the above demands can improve the situation. So, let us support the struggling workers and, inspired by their struggle, join the struggle ourselves.
Appeal by:
Karkhana Mazdoor Union, Punjab
Textile-Hosiery Kamgar Union, Punjab
Naujawan Bharat Sabha
Contact: 9646150249 (Lakhwinder), 9888816135 (Vishwanath)