CITU – EDITORIAL OF WORKING CLASS, OCTOBER-2010

LET US FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE UNITY AND MOVE AHEAD

Working people all over the country, covering all the sectors, have responded magnificently to the call of Central Trade Unions and National Federations for the historic countrywide strike on 7th September. This has been the largest ever strike by Indian working class - a clear warning to the Indian ruling class that the Indian Trade Union movement is determined to fight for a change in the polices of the Government.

The five point charter of demands calls for a change in the policies being pursued. The trade unions have shown that despite differences on various issues, the workers, as a class, can get united and demand justice, not only to the workers themselves, but to all the toiling and deprived sections in the country. The trade unions did not expect a sudden change in the policies of the UPA II Govt, as the government is determined to go ahead with the neoliberal policies about which the Prime Minister has asserted again recently. Recent `policy’ decisions on disinvestments and also dilly dallying on the issues connected with Food Security, added with the continuing reports of violation of labour laws and denial of trade union rights makes it imperative, that this united movement has to be carried forward with many more united and massive actions in the coming days. Reports about preparations for seven day strike by Coal workers and three day strike by BSNL employees in October confirm the opportunities for carrying forward this united movement.

This magnificent strike on 7th September will be remembered as a bigger follow up to the 12 country wide general strikes, conducted by the Sponsoring committee of trade unions. In addition to the countrywide strikes, there has been more sectoral strikes, on policy issues, where wider unity of workers in those industries could be achieved. The message of 7th September has to be taken to the people all over the country. All Sections of working people have to be united. With more and more divisive and reactionary forces, trying to build up hurdles to the unity of the people and their united struggles, the initiative taken by trade unions during the last one year, which culminated in the strike is historically important. We should also take note of the fact that on 7th September itself, there has been massive strikes in various countries on almost identical demands. World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) had given the call for International Action Day with the slogans `We will not pay for their crisis’ and `Alternative in favour of the workers now’. Millions of workers have participated in strike actions, rallies and demonstrations in Europe and also in other continents. Strikes and Struggles in countries like France are continuing.

Let the unity of the Indian working people be further strengthened and more and more struggles conducted so as to defend the interests of the country as a whole.

Souce: citucentre.org (Working Class)