On 9 August 2016, joint action committees of the Trade Unions organised protest and demonstrations all across India against the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-social policies of central and state governments.
This is part of the preparation towards the All India General Strike on 2nd September. Various protest actions, public meetings and demonstrations were held at state capitals, industrial centers and cities, villages, and highlighting their demands.
In the national capital Delhi, various trade unions and workers organizations held a joint demonstration which began from Shaheed Park on Bahadurshah Zafar Road and concluded in a public meeting at ITO.
Workers from defense sector, railways, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Transport Corporation, industrial sector, workers from various schemes of the government, employees of municipal corporation, IRCTC, CBSE, CWC, Container Corporation, NDMC, Election Office, LNJP Hospital, guest teachers, ICDS workers, security guards, hotel union, post office employees, employees of Delhi Food and Supplies department, and workers from other sectors participated in the demonstration. It also included contract workers from various departments and sectors.
Workers held red flags and placards in their hands with slogans “Inquilaab Zindabad! Poonjiwaad Murdabaad!” (Long live Revolution! Down, down with Capitalism!), “20,000 Nyuntam Vetan lekar rahengey” (We demand Rs.20000 as minimum wage!), “Contract pratha par rok lagao” (Put an end to the Contract System!), “Delhi Jal Board ka nijikaran nahi!” (No to Privatisation of Delhi Jal Board!), etc.
Before the rally could reach the Delhi Secretariat it was blocked at the ITO, and got transformed into a public meeting. The public meeting was coordinated by Comrade Virendra Gaud of CITU.
Addressing the workers gathered at the public rally representatives from various appealed to workers to make the 2 September general strike a success. All the speakers condemned various governments who are changing labour laws against the interest of the workers. They demanded minimum wages of Rs. 20000, capping the price rise, ending contract labour, regularization of workers in government schemes, and blocking of FDI and privatization.
Those addressing the public meeting included Comrade Santosh Rai of AICCTU, Comrade RK Sharma of AIUTUC, Comrade Amarjeet Kaur of AITUC, Comrade Harbhajan Singh of HMS, Comrade Santosh Kumar of MEC, Shreepal of INTUC, Comrade Devarajan of TUCC, Comrade Shatrujeet Singh of UTUC, and Comrade JP Singh of LPF.