The National Convention of Workers, convened by Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations on 18 March 2025 in Delhi has announced a nationwide general strike on 20th May 2025, following a two-month-long mass campaign against the anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies of the BJP-led government.
The convention witnessed the participation of public sector workers from banks, insurance, coal, steel, railways, and telecom, alongside informal sector workers, contract workers, gig workers, and scheme workers from across the country. The gathering at Pyare Lal Bhavan resonated with slogans of resistance, declaring "Enough is enough!"
Trade union leaders condemned the government’s decade-long indifference to workers' demands, highlighting its pro-corporate agenda that has deepened economic inequality, privatisation, and joblessness. The convention unanimously adopted a declaration demanding the scrapping of labour codes and reaffirmed a 17-point charter of demands, which includes:
A Rs. 26,000 minimum wage
Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme
Recognition of scheme and gig workers as formal employees
An end to privatisation of key public sectors
Strengthening of labour rights and social security
The convention sent out a scathing attack on the brazenly pro corporate policies in favour of the crony capitalists, creation of monopoly and duopoly capitalists that are detrimental to the working people and overall economic well-being of the country. In an unequivocal tone and unwavering conviction, the convention sent out a firm message that the central government cannot continue unrelenting to the united voice in a war cry of the working masses. The convention emphasised that the working people of India, the real wealth makers shall not allow the loot of their creation by the crony capitalists.
Central Union leaders, including Rajiv Dimri (AICCTU), Ashok Singh (INTUC), Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC), Tapan Sen (CITU), and others, vowed to resist corporate loot and exploitation. The convention declared that the May 20 strike will mark the beginning of a larger struggle for workers’ and peasants’ rights, ensuring that the working class will not allow its hard-earned rights to be trampled.
