Save Paper Mill, Save Workers Convention at Guwahati
AICCTU held a state level workers convention on 25th August - “Save Paper Mill, Save Industry, Save Workers" - at Guwahati press club in solidarity with the workers movement of Nagaon paper mill (Jagiroad) and Cachar paper mill (Korimganj) which were closed down by the BJP government in year 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Apart from the union of Nagaon and Cachar paper mill, the Namrup Fertiliser Workers Union, Assam State Power Workers Union, Asom Sangrami Chah Shramik Sangh (tea workers union), Assam Provincial Bank Employee's association, United Workmen Union, Sintex Workers Union, Fartichem Shramik union, Build Worth Shramik Union, India Carbon Employees and Workers Union, Assam Carbon Employees and Workers Union and four other central trade unions CITU, AITU, AIUTUC, INTUC participated in this Workers Convention.
Apart from trade unions eminent writer Dr. Dilip Bora, Tea Workers leader Bibek Das, paper mill workers leader Anand Bardoloi, Manabendra Chakraboty, Senior journalist Khagen Kalita, noted singer Loknath Goswami, also participated in the convention. The Convention was presided by Biren Kalita and Subhas Sen. Pankaj Kumar Das, Assistant Secretary of AICCTU state committee presented the approach paper for the Convention. The Convention has called on all unions and democratic sections of society to build up struggling unity and people's resistance against the fascist attack on working people and Convention has decided to held a join protest on the demand of reopen the production of both paper mill and pay the all unpaid salary of workers of paper mill on 20th September at Guwahati.
The Convention demanded a CBI inquiry on the sanction fund of Rs 4,141 cores to HPCL which was declared by the central industry minister in the recent parliament session and appealed to Supreme Court to intervene in this matter. The Convention adopted proposals for modernisation of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited, as well as Namrup; ensure 20% bonus and Rs 350 daily wage for tea workers; revival of ATC garden; self reliance of the State Power Sector; and social security of contractual and other unorganised workers. The Convention formed a joint forum namely "Save Industry Save Workers Joint Struggle Committee.” The Convention adopted a resolution in support of the Ordinance Factory workers strike and the ongoing movement against privatisation and job lose. Comrade Balindra Saikia performed revolutionary songs.
