Working Class

Under the call given by the Indian Railway Employees Federation, Anti-Privatization day was observed across the country on 18 August 2020. Railway employees at all zones, divisions, production units, railway stations and workshops organized marches in a peaceful democratic way while maintaining physical distance, and made railway employees aware of the need to oppose privatization and save the railways.

The Central Trade Unions along with Sectoral Federations and Associations and farmers’ organisations observed 9th August as “SAVE INDIA DAY” against anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies of the BJP Government organising nationwide action programmes of Satyagrah, jail bharo, processions, public rallies which received a huge response throughout the country. Workers and farmers protested at work places, union offices, on roads and streets and held processions, cycle and motorbike rallies and public meetings.

All India Scheme Workers Federation expresses revolutionary salutations to all the ASHA workers, Rasoiyas and Anganwadi Sevikas-Sahayikas for the success of the 2-day historic strike despite the troubles and complexities of Corona times.

THE 3-day strike against privatization began on 2 July 2020 at Kumardhuvi Coal Region under the banner of the countrywide joint front (Rashtravyapi Sanyukta Morcha). The strike was widespread and successful in Dhanbad District.

Production was at a standstill in all collieries including Kumardhuvi Colliery, excepting Barmudi, Rajpura Open Cast in Mugma Area (ECL).

IT is shocking to note that there are frequent accidents and subsequent loss of workers lives at NLC plants. 6 contract workers lost their lives this time also on 1st July 2020, because of explosion of 210 MW boiler at Thermal station 2. 17 persons were injured seriously and admitted in hospital includes permanent workers, staff members and officers. It shows utter negligence on the part of the highly profitable Navratna Central Public Sector management. Very recently on May 7th 2020 some 5 workers succumbed to their injuries in another such accident.

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.

AICCTU organized a conference at Mansa in Punjab on 26 June 2020 to mark the countrywide Protest Day against Emergency. The conference was inaugurated by AICCTU State President Rajvinder Singh Rana and addressed by leaders Narbhinder Singh, Sukhdarshan Natt, Amreek and Gurjant Singh Mansa.

The main resolutions passed at the conference are as follows:

AICCTU actively supported the Countrywide Black Day protest organized by power sector workers on 1 June against the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and demanded that this Bill should be immediately revoked.

BRAVING incessant rains, the North Bengal tea workers observed the All India Demand Day on 28 April, called by AICCTU. They displayed handwritten placards and chanted slogans in many gardens. They held small meetings observing physical distancing to read out the main thrusts of the demand charter and about the unbearable plight of migrant workers from closed and sick tea gardens and also about the non-payment of due lockdown wages by the employers of the entire tea sector.