CITU Campaigns Extensively for Feb 16 Industrial/Sectoral Strike
Arka Rajpandit
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LAKHS of workers and peasants from across the country made their voice heard by participating in yet another decisive joint class action through the industrial strike and grameen bandh on February 16, under the aegis of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Central Trade Unions (SKM-CTUs) in protest against the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people policies of Modi-led BJP government.
On February 16, the joint action committee called for the ousting of the corporate-communal regime at the centre. Workers’ growing disillusionment over the destructive ruling class policies and their exasperation during the current regime, was made clear in the successful industrial strike actions and the grameen bandh.
The cohesive campaign, mobilisations and struggles against the anti-people, anti-worker, destructive policy regime of the present corporate-communal nexus in government has been going on continuously and in phases with the collective understanding of wealth-producing classes since the historic joint all-India convention of workers and farmers called by the SKM and CTUs, held on August 24, 2023 at Talkatora stadium in New Delhi.
That convention became a milestone in joint struggles, and both the SKM and CTUs implemented the programmes adopted there – observing October 3, 2023 as black day all across India and a three-day-long mahapadav in front of all the Raj Bhawans in the country with massive mobilisations of workers, farmers and agricultural workers.
In the aftermath of the mahapadav, the joint platform of SKM and CTUs met separately and decided to strengthen class unity further in order to unleash more combative and decisive class actions against the authoritarian, corporate-communal policy regimes.
In this backdrop, the platform of CTUs and SKM, at an online meeting held on January 10, 2024, decided to intensify the grassroots level joint campaign and agitations across the country. This joint campaign and agitations culminated on February 16, in the industrial strike actions and the grameen bandh.
INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN
During the preparatory campaign period, CITU organisers and activists reached out to a large number of workers to popularise the 21-point charter of demands adopted at the joint convention on August 24, 2023.
The CITU emphasized on holding an independent campaign and a joint campaign on the respective platforms. The joint charter of demands contains a comprehensive list of workers' demands including the rollback of the four labour codes, provision of social security for all, withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022, putting an end to contractualisation, and bringing the privatisation of public sector companies to a halt.
Their other demands include the fixing of minimum wage, amending ESI, EPF, and bonus laws, and creating social security schemes for the unorganised sector workers.
The protesters also sought recognition of ‘worker’ status for various sectors, ensuring their rights and implementation of safety measures in their workplaces.
The CITU organisers also tried to develop class consciousness among the workers so that they could understand that their plight and miseries are linked with the policies of the corporate-communal RSS-BJP regime.
During the preparatory campaign, CITU reached a large number of factories, work sites, and workers mohallas and as a result, tens of thousands of workers participated in general body meetings.
The CITU reached the mass of workers with leaflets and pamphlets and displayed demands on hoardings, banners, etc.
Several states witnessed wall writings, rallies, and street corner meetings of the campaign and the CITU cadres also tried reaching out to the families in their neighbourhood.
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