More than 5000 workers of both the public and private sector, including informal workers, activists of various trade unions from all over the country, assembled on 24 February at the Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, to assert their rights which are under attack by the ruling monopoly capitalists and their state. This was the open session of the 11th All India Conference of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU).
Representatives of INTUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, UTUC and SEWA also addressed the session.
Speakers at the session criticised the all-sided attacks on the rights of the workers and the violation of their hard-won rights. The right to an 8-hour work day is being violated and workers are being forced to work for as long as 12 hours. The speakers pointed out that industrial, agrarian and urban informal workers together create the wealth of the country. They called upon the workers to come forward unitedly in the struggle.
The four labour codes were condemned by all the speakers, as an outright attempt to intensify the exploitation of the workers, in order to enhance the profits of the capitalists. Workers across the country will go on strike, they declared, if the labour codes are not withdrawn.
All the speakers opposed the government’s policies of liberalisation and privatisation, the lack of regular employment, increasing contractualization of labour, the expansion of the informal sector where the workers have no rights or security of livelihood, and the increasing degree of exploitation in all sectors. They spoke of the demolition of workers’ homes with bulldozers and increasing industrial accidents threatening the lives and livelihood of workers. The increasing use of the police to crush workers’ struggles and the suppression of all forms of protest was criticised by all speakers as a blatant assault on our democratic rights.
Representatives of Anganwadi, ASHA and mid-day meal workers spoke of their terrible exploitation and their persistent struggle for recognition as workers, for minimum wages and social security benefits. Representatives of kisan organisations spoke of the importance of strengthening the unity of the workers and kisans against the loot by the monopoly capitalists. Workers of the All India Municipality and Sanitation Workers Federation spoke against the triple oppression of caste, patriarchy and class faced by sanitation workers, and their struggle against these.
The concerted efforts of the rulers to divide the unity of the workers in their common struggle, by spreading communal hatred and organising communal violence, killings, lynchings, etc. was roundly condemned.
The Conference concluded with the delegates reaffirming their commitment to advance the workers’ struggle against capitalist exploitation and state repression, in defence of their rights and dignity.