Author: cgpiadmin

Unite in defence of the right of workers to form unions and resist super-exploitation!

Following the outbreak of violence in and around Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant on 18 July, 2012, the state police machinery has been ordered to unleash widespread terror among the workers in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt.

More than 18 organisations of workers, women and people at large have united to oppose the implementation of the fascistic law called Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), 2011.  They have come together in an Organising Committee, which convened a public meeting on 21^st July in Mumbai, and pledged to fight for the withdrawal of MESMA. 

One of the first major decisions taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after he took charge of the Finance Ministry in July 2012, was to scrap the draft of General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) and constitute a new committee to propose a new draft after consulting all ”stake holders”.

Mazdoor Ekta Lehar expresses profound grief at the passing away of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal on July 22, 2012 at the age of 97.

The life and work of Captain Lakshmi Sehgal have been a source of example and inspiration to all those who have fought under the banner of freedom and independence, from colonialism, imperialism and all forms of exploitation and oppression.

Since 18th July, hundreds of peasant families in Gorakhpur, Haryana have pitched their tents under the hot sun on their fields in the villages. Women, men and children are sitting in protest on the land which the government wants to acquire for setting up a nuclear power plant.

On July 22, police opened fire on peasants in Rewari who have been protesting against forcible acquisition of their lands by the Haryana government. Over thirty peasants are reported injured in these firings. The Haryana government has launched a campaign of intimidation including foisting of false cases on peasants, in an effort to divide them and crush their struggle.

Women health workers (ASHAs) and mid-day meal workers of Haryana held a protest in Rohtak on June 22. The members of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) Workers’ Union and the Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union were demanding their right to minimum wages, appointment letters, identity cards, social security and other benefits.

On July 20, 2012 over 450 motormen of the Western Railway in Mumbai under the leadership of their Union, Western Railway Motormen’s Association (WRMA) struck work by going on mass sick leave at 3.30 pm. Due to the protest action by the motormen the entire rail transport in this section was completely shut down and brought half of Mumbai to a standstill.

Lakhs of employees in Rajasthan held militant demonstrations in front of 33 district headquarters on 25th July 2012 to protest against the policy of privatisation, liberalisation and globalisation and in support of their 11-point charter of demands, under the leadership of the All Rajasthan State Employees Coordination Committee. A petition was submitted to the Chief Minister.