“The Country will witness an unprecedented participation of not only workers, but of agricultural workers and peasants and other sections of the people on February 12, 2026, in the all India General Strike”, “the working class of the country will not allow their rights won through decades of fierce class battle under colonial rule and after, to be taken away by the ruling corporate communal nexus” declared the National Convention of Wworkers held on January 9, 2026.

The National Convention at Delhi was called for the deliberation on and declaration of the next phase of struggles. It was called to concretise the plans of a counter-offensive in the background of the all-out attack by the ruling dispensation not only on the working class but on each and every section of the working people.

Called by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and independent federations/associations, the National Convention was attended by leaders of the ten central trade unions, independent sectoral federations of state and central government employees, bank, insurance, BSNL and representatives of major federations of strategic sectors – electricity, defence, railways, petroleum, coal, steel, water transport, road transport etc. The National Convention was also attended by leaders of other traditional industrial and unorganised sectors – construction, home-based workers, street vendors and a large number of scheme workers – Anganwadi, ASHA and MDM workers.

The Convention vowed to resist the onslaught of the ‘gangster phase of imperialism’ not only destroying the livelihoods of the people of our globe, but moving towards wiping out even the last traces of democratic ethos left within the capitalist order; it has already unleashed endless wars, intruded into the geographic boundaries of sovereign countries, the latest being the blatant aggression on Venezuela and the abduction of its president and his spouse by the US troops. The tariffs as well as the trade agreements being imposed on our country in the same phase of aggression are affecting agriculture, manufacturing and services and are undoubtedly a weapon to subjugate us to US dictates. It is nothing but the expression of the desperation of imperialism, originating out of the crisis stricken reality of global capitalist order.

The Modi government and the Indian monopolies, as a junior partner of US imperialism, are trying to adjust through compromise and further transfer the burden of the crisis onto the people of India. The notified Labour Codes and the draft rules are designed to crush the right to association and collective bargaining and to take away the right to strike; almost 70 per cent of factories will be out of the coverage of labour laws and regulations. They want to do away with all the employers’ obligations, throw out the vast majority of workers from the protection of occupational safety and also from social security; this would virtually demolish all the existing rights and wage protections. In essence, the Labour Codes are articulately designed by the government to impose conditions of slavery on the workers and demolish their trade unions; these are to facilitate their corporate masters to further intensify the loot of the workers, farmers and people in general.

At the same time, it was emphasised that the Labour Codes are not only taking away the rights of various sections of the workers, but will endanger the democratic structure of our republic – the democratic rights of the workers is the core of the democratic essence of our country.

The convention was chaired by a presidium consisting of Sudip Dutta (CITU), Amit Yadav (INTUC), Haridwar Singh (AITUC), Champa Verma (HMS), Vijay Pal Singh (AIUTUC), Rakesh Mishra (TUCC), Ashaben (SEWA), Sucheta De (AICCTU), LPF (R K Mourya) and R S Dagar (UTUC).

Leaders of various trade unions spoke in support of the draft resolution, hailing the call of the February 12, 2026, General Strike. CITU General Secretary Elamaram Kareem said that the process of curtailment of rights of workers had, in fact, begun several years ago through four simultaneous processes: procedural changes in labour administration directed at curtailing inspection to check on labour laws compliance along with the granting of exemptions and self-certification by the employers; legislative and executive changes directed at increasing flexible employment relations, allowing employers to hire temporary contract or casual workers rather than permanent employees; restructuring of the premises and principle of social security for workers by reducing employer's contribution, greater emphasis on limited private insurance, linking rights to market behaviour rather than assured public provisioning; and imposition of additional conditions and restraints on registration of trade unions and collective bargaining.

He said that by restricting the definition of workers or employees, the codes exclude large sections of workers, especially women workers – domestic workers, gig and platform workers, auxiliary nurses, apprentices, home-based workers, scheme workers - Asha, Anganwadi etc., MNREGA workers - from the purview of labour laws. He said that the Kerala LDF government is the only government standing solidly with the working class; it has declared that it will not implement the labour codes.

Other speakers included Ashok Singh, Amarjeet Kaur, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, R K Sharma, Arti, Lataben, Rajiv Dimri, Jawahar Singh and Shatrujeet Singh.

The Convention resolved to organise extensive campaign on all of the urgent issues at the grassroots level to culminate in a massive National General Strike on February 12, 2026. The Convention extended the support of the CTUs to the SKM call to observe Resistance Day on January 16, 2026 across the country against the Seed Bill 2025, Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2025, VB-G RAM G Act 2025, and in support of other demands. The CTUs will take part in this action with full strength.

The series of laws and bills brought by the Modi regime in the winter session of parliament, doing away with all democratic processes – the Seed Bill, the Shanti Act, VB-G RAM G Act, Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 100% FDI in insurance have been passed and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill ready to be passed at any time now – all reflect the deep rooted crisis of neoliberal capitalism in our country and the frantic fascistic attacks for revival. These attacks have created a situation of unprecedented unity of all sections of the people, especially the producing classes – workers, farmers and agricultural workers. February 12, 2026 will mark the beginning of a new phase of heightened struggles.

The strike will be the 24th all India general strike called by the trade unions since the advent of neoliberalism in India. It is the ninth general strike since the BJP-NDA came to power in 2014 (September 2, 2015, September 2, 2016, January 8-9, 2019, January  8, 2020, November 26, 2020, March 28-29, 2022, February 16, 2024, July 9, 2025). It is the fifth general strike since the Labour Codes were undemocratically pushed through Parliament. The joint strength of the trade unions and the support of the kisan movement will make the government repeal the Codes,  the Convention reiterated univocally and resolutely.

Most importantly, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha extended unconditional support to the platform of central trade unions for the proposed strike, even before the date was finalised. The joint front of agricultural workers unions, which is preparing for a massive struggle against the VB-G RAM G Act, has also resolved to join the strike. A meeting of the class and mass organisations and platforms – CITU, AIKS, AIAWU, DYFI, SFI, DSMM, AARM and NPRD – held recently has decided to conduct a massive joint campaign by forming strike committees upto the grassroots level. And there will be massive mobilisation across the country on the strike day – the country will stand still.

The Convention declared that if the government still tries to pursue the rules under the Codes and does not repeal the Codes, they will be compelled to go for further strong actions, including a multiple-day general strike, along with sectoral resistance actions. The people of India will not surrender before the fascistic forces - no way!