In the midst of corporate celebrations of 25th year of neo-liberalism in the country, the working class all over the country, with support from peasants, agricultural workers and others is now fully prepared for another countrywide general strike on September 2.

The struggle, which began in 1991, is entering into an important phase, with various sections of working people joining the working class protest actions.

The first phase of this struggle was from 1991 to 2008, when not all the central trade unions were together in this struggle in which large number of independent national level federations were also participating.  In addition to various sectoral struggles and strikes, there were 12 country wide general strikes upto 2008.  These struggles were conducted facing brutal attacks from the employers and governments.  In each one of the countrywide strikes, there was wider participation than the previous one.  The government was hell bent to go ahead with the policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.

Stronger unity
These realities had forced a rethinking among the unions who were keeping away from the joint platform.  Many local unions and large number of workers belonging to these central unions were already participating in these strikes and struggles out of their own experiences at the work spot.

From September 2009, the united campaign started making powerful impact in the country.  The countrywide general strikes on September 7, 2010 and February 28, 2012 witnessed massive participation. But, the government at the centre was not even prepared to have a discussion with the unions on their demands.  The severe impact of these disastrous policies on the livelihood of the working people had forced various sections of people to come to the streets.

This forced the unions to intensify the struggle.  Country wide demonstrations, sectoral strikes and struggles and the massive march to parliament etc culminated in 48 hours of countrywide strike.  This strike on February 20-21, 2013 was held with largest ever participation and was the first ever countrywide strike held for more than 24 hours.  On the whole, this was the 15th strike, after 1991.
    
After the general elections, Modi government, forgetting all its assurances to the people, went ahead with the policies – the pay back process for the huge support they got for the election campaign.  A host of policy prescriptions were being put in place -  labour law amendments, incentives to corporates all in the name of ‘ease of doing business’  while price increase, loss of jobs and increasing unemployment were heaping miseries on the working people.  Ordinances facilitating land grab forced the kisans and agricultural workers to come to the streets in a massive way against Modi government.

This as we all know, was the background of the 16th countrywide general strike on September 2, 2015.  None could forget the last minute withdrawal of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) from the strike, in the name of giving time for the government to implement its so-called assurances.  These vague statements, of ‘Government will do everything’ were surely not acceptable to other unions and the strike on September 2 again became the largest strike, with the participation of 15 crores of workers.

Various sectoral struggles in the intervening period and the powerful impact of the joint campaign at the floor level enabled this massive participation.  It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of these participants were non-unionised workers.

But the Modi government was not prepared to do anything, to meet the demands of workers.  The ministerial committee, which was formed on the eve of the strike in 2015 that ‘assured’ to do the needful, only to get the strike deferred, did not even call a meeting despite continuous demands.  This forced the unions again to decide for a national convention in the month of March.  Interestingly, the BMS had also attended the meeting which decided to hold the convention, but did not participate in the convention.  This convention called upon the Indian working class to go for the 17th countrywide strike, again on September 2 this year.  The convention reiterated the charter of demands on which the strike in 2015 was conducted.

During the intervening period, Modi government has taken many steps to amend labour laws which result in more than 75 percent of workers in manufacturing sectors being pushed out of the purview of labour laws. In sum, the impact of the government’s ‘labour reforms’ would escalate hire and fire to the whims and fancies of the corporates and other employers in the country. The government has permitted more FDI into newer areas like railways and defence production.  Public sector enterprises are being put on the block for strategic sales, ie, handing over the administration to the private investors, even if their shares are minor.  All the core sectors like oil, steel are to be included in this list and many others would be sold out.

With prices of essential commodities increasing, all economic activities in the downward trend, the sufferings of the working people are mounting.  Forgetting all the assurances to the common people, the government has only the interests of corporates – Indian and foreign – on their agenda. Rural distress is increasing. Kisans and agricultural workers are on struggle.

All voices of protest and dissent  are being suppressed.  Universities and other institutions have become the targets of the government.  Young generation who had expected the government to heed to their livelihood issues are now fuming against the government.

Simultaneously other items in the Hindutva agenda are being taken up on a large scale by the ruling party.  Attacks on minorities and dalits are going on in different parts of the country.  The unity of the working people is being jeopardised.

Country wide preparations
It is in this scenario, working people all over the country are preparing for the strike.  Central government employees including railways and defence civilian employees had declared indefinite strike from July 11 which was deferred after some assurances on changes in the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission.  Bank employees and officers under the banner of UFBU, had gone on a countrywide strike on July 29.  There were struggles of transport workers in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka and electricity workers in Haryana went on strike defying threats of ESMA.  Central public sector workers have in a national convention decided to go on struggle against privatisation and other policies.

All these sections along with their colleagues from various other sectors – organised, unorganised, private and public, central and state government employees, teachers, scheme workers – are fully prepared now,  for the strike.  In the transport sector, all the national federations have given the strike call.  In the electricity sector, power engineers and workers, under the banner of the joint forum, NCCOEE, have called for making the strike a success.  In the central power sector like NTPC, Power Grid also, strike campaign is in full swing.  BSNL employees have conducted extensive campaigns.  FMRAI, the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives, while on their own sectoral struggles will also be participating fully in the strike.

Many state level trade union centres affiliated to regional parties like TRS in Telangana and many non-affiliated trade unions in different states have also decided to participate in the strike. As of now, many unions and general members belonging to BMS have assured the strike campaigners that they will join the strike.

State level, sectoral and regional conventions are being held all over the country.  Thousands of squads, with handbills, posters and cultural programmes are reaching out to every nook and corner spreading the message of strike and explaining the demands.

August 9, the Quit India day, witnessed huge rallies, demonstrations, dharnas all over the country, declaring their preparedness to go on strike on September 2.

Peasant and agricultural workers organisations have decided to go for countrywide struggle, along with the working class on September 2.  Left parties including CPI(M)  and CPI have also extended solidarity and support to the strike.  The anger among the working people has forced the BMS also to declare that they will go on strike but with a rider that they have been invited for talks and will decide after the talks.

It is obvious that the government is trying to divide the working people.  The central trade unions, who have given the strike call, have not been called for any talks.

It is in this situation that the working class all over the country is fully prepared to make the strike a great success.

September 2, 2016, will not only be a day of country wide strike, but also the day marking peoples resistance against the anti-worker, anti-people policies of the ruling classes.