Trade Unions Protest in Uttar Pradesh
IN response to the nationwide joint call by Central trade unions, protests were organized at various Districts across Uttar Pradesh on 3 July 2020 against privatization of public sector units by the Modi government, to demand withdrawal of anti-labor changes in labor laws, to revoke the decision to freeze DA, and for raise in wages and allowances for workers during the Covid pandemic period. In capital Lucknow, workers belonging to unions affiliated to Central trade unions—AICCTU, CITU, AITUC, INTUC and HMS—protested at the Deputy Labor Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Chief Minister. Many leaders addressed the meeting, including AICCTU National Executive member Chandrabhan Gupta, District Convener Madhusudan Magan, and Construction Workers Union District President Noumilal.
Unions affiliated to AICCTU organized a protest meeting at Dadanagar in Kanpur. Unions affiliated to Central trade unions organized a human chain in the city, held a meeting in front of the Deputy Labor Commission office and submitted a memorandum. Among those who addressed the meeting were AICCTU leaders SAM Zaidi and Rana Singh.
A protest meeting was organized jointly by trade unions at the Civil Lines Chowk in Allahabad. The meeting was addressed by Indian Railways Employees Federation National President Manoj Pandey, AICCTU National Secretary Kamal Usri and others. A protest was organized at the Collectorate in Rae Bareli and a memorandum was submitted. The meeting was addressed by AICCTU State President and Mazdoor Union Sangharsh Samiti District Convener Vijay Vidrohi. A protest was also organized by the Indian Railway Employees Federation at the Rail Coach Factory. The Home Appliance Union affiliated to AICCTU organized a protest meeting. Dharna protests were organized at different places in Ghazipur District by CPIML, Kisan Mahasabha and AIARLA. The protest and meeting at Jamania Tahsil was addressed by Kisan Mahasabha National Secretary Ishwari Prasad Kushwaha. Protests were organized and memorandums submitted at Gorakhpur, Devariya, Azamgarh, Mau, Ayodhya, Lakhimpur Kheeri, Sitapur, Jalaun, and other Districts.
FIR against 25 Labor Leaders in Allahabad
The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh could not digest the countrywide protests organized on 3 July at the call of Central trade unions. 25 leaders from the protesting unions were slapped with an FIR in Prayagraj (Allahabad) under the Pandemic Act. On getting this news from newspapers, trade unions protested on 7 July in front of the DM office and demanded withdrawal of the FIR.
Allahabad Civil Lines Thana police have used the protest program on 3 July as the basis for filing a case against 25 leaders including Indian Railway Employees Federation National President Manoj Pandey, AICCTU National Secretary Dr Kamal Usri, AICCTU Allahabad District President SC Bahadur, AITUC leaders Annu Singh and Jawaharlal Vishwakarma and CITU leader Avinash Mishra under the Pandemic Act as well as Sections 188, 269 and 270. Speaking on the issue, AICCTU leader Dr Kamal Usri said that the Modi-Yogi governments are determined not to listen to the voice of workers and want to strike fear into those protesting for workers’ rights. The action of registering an FIR against labor leaders peacefully protesting for workers’ rights amounts to murder of democracy.
