On September 2, 2015, crores of workers of our country from all sectors of the economy will participate in an All India General Strike. The strike has been called to express the complete opposition of the working class of our country to the anti-worker, anti-peasant and anti-social program of the ruling capitalist class.
On September 2, 2015, crores of workers of our country from all sectors of the economy will participate in an All India General Strike. The strike has been called to express the complete opposition of the working class of our country to the anti-worker, anti-peasant and anti-social program of the ruling capitalist class. The strike has been called by trade unions and employees’ federations of the country around a 12 point charter of struggle.
This charter of struggle has united under one banner trade unions cutting across the country, irrespective of their affiliation to this or that party. The demands raised in the charter are (1) Reducing prices and bringing them under control (2) National Floor Level Minimum wage of Rs 15,000 (3) No to anti worker changes in labour laws, Strict implementation of existing labour laws (4) End contract system, and practice of outsourcing and hiring of daily wage labour, (5) Pension for all workers (6) Equal wages for equal work (7) Social Security for agricultural workers and other unorganized sector workers (8) No to privatization (9) Withdrawal of the Road Transport and Safety Bill (10) Regularisation of Scheme workers (11) No to FDI in Defence, Railways, Financial Sector and Retail Trade (12) Withdrawal of the Land Acquisition Bill.
The demands raised by the working class are in the interests of the well-being of the whole of society. They are a part of the struggle of the working class and people of our country to halt and reverse the anti-national and anti-social program of globalization through liberalization and privatization.
For over 25 years, successive governments have pursued this program in the face of fierce opposition of the working class and toiling masses. This program has been aimed solely at fulfilling the insatiable greed of the bourgeoisie. The results are staring Indian society in its face. All the growth and development that has taken place has only benefited the Indian monopolies and the imperialists. The biggest monopolies today pride themselves on being amongst the list of the richest on earth. At the other end, the conditions of the vast masses of workers and peasants have greatly deteriorated. The land, the labour, the mineral resources, the rivers and forests of our country are being ruthlessly exploited and plundered by the bourgeoisie and the imperialists in their striving for maximum profits.
Caught in a severe crisis, the big bourgeoisie is launching even fiercer attacks on the rights of the working class and toiling masses. But workers and peasants of our country have declared that they will not sit quiet and take these attacks lying down. The anger and resolve of workers will reveal itself in the General Strike.
The demand of the times is to halt and reverse this thoroughly anti national and anti-social course of globalization through privatization and liberalization. This struggle is part of the larger struggle to reorient the economy from its current orientation of ensuring maximum profits for the Indian and foreign capitalists, to ensuring the well-being of all. It is part of the struggle to replace the present political system and process which ensures the dictatorship of the minority of exploiters and oppressors over the vast majority of people, with a new political system and process which will enable the working class and toiling peasantry to become decision makers.
All over the country, trade unions, employees federations and workers unity committees are carrying on a vigorous campaign at factory gates, in industrial areas, and other places to make the broad masses of workers conscious of the importance of the ongoing struggle. As part of this preparation, trade unions and federations have been organizing in different cities, holding state level conventions of workers, uniting in the struggle as many unions and workers organizations as possible.
The Communist Ghadar Party of India calls upon all communists, all working class activists, to vigorously work to make the strike a resounding success.