On 7th September 2012, the main roads of Thane resounded with slogans such as, "An attack on one is an attack on all!", "Down with the anti-worker Government!", "Long live the unity of the workers!".
On 7th September 2012, the main roads of Thane resounded with slogans such as, "An attack on one is an attack on all!", "Down with the anti-worker Government!", "Long live the unity of the workers!". Thousands of workers and democratic people were demonstrating to condemn the reign of terror unleashed on the workers by the owner of Navi Mumbai based Syndicate Wipers. Dharmaraj Kamghar Karmachari Mahasangh with its thousands of members, along with organisations like Sarva Shramik Sangh, Kamghar Ekta Chalwal, CITU, etc., participated in the demonstration.
The owner of Syndicate Wipers had hired goons to attack the workers who were fighting for their rights. To crush the worker's movement, the owner also got the police to press false charges on the workers and their leaders and jailed many of them for months. However, the workers and leaders remained united and thwarted the attempt to crush their struggle (see article in the August 16th-31st issue of Mazdoor Ekta Lehar to know more about this struggle).
A similar attack was organised on the workers' movement and their leaders in Nasik on 24-25 August 2012. Leaders of the workers were arrested on a trumped up charge of attacking the management of the company. Their aim was the same; "put the leaders to rot in jail, so that the struggle of the workers can be crushed". The workers' union is affiliated to CITU there. The workers all over Nasik were angered by the devious tactics of the owner and the police. More than 5,000 workers and citizens of Nasik brought out a demonstration on 25th August to express their anger. On 29th another huge demonstration of more than 10,000 farmers was organised under the banner of the All India Kisan Sangh to condemn the owner and the government and to demand the release of all arrested. In several parts of Maharashtra, workers organised demonstrations in support of the militant workers of Everest company.
In demonstration at Thane on 7th September, the government was denounced for acting on behalf of the owners to launch bestial attacks on the leaders of the workers and on their movement. Such attacks are being carried out in an organised fashion. Hired goons are brought in the company premises to launch attacks on the workers, and if, workers retaliate in self defence, they are promptly arrested by the police. Alternately, the owners organise to deliberately provoke the workers, and if the workers fall for it, then they are made the target of legal actions. The corporate media also springs into action to spread the poisonous propaganda that "workers have become violent", or "workers' struggle is illegal", or "workers are threatening the industrial peace", etc. On the basis of such propaganda, an all-sided attack is launched on the workers!
Mazdoor Ekta Lehar unequivocally condemns the government for these attacks on the workers. Mazdoor Ekta Lehar fully supports the workers of Syndicate Wipers and Everest companies and calls on them to remain alert.