2018 : Mounting struggles of the working class and peasantry

Asha and Anganwanri workers' DemonstrationWorkers, peasants and all sections of the working people were on the streets, in ever-increasing numbers, against the growing attacks on their livelihood and rights.

Working people opposed the privatization of healthcare, transport, education and other services, and the pro-capitalist amendments to labour laws.

Trade Unions, cutting across party affiliations, have been organizing joint protest actions against privatization and the increasing attacks on the livelihood and rights of workers.

Workers, peasants and all sections of the working people were on the streets, in ever-increasing numbers, against the growing attacks on their livelihood and rights.

Working people opposed the privatization of healthcare, transport, education and other services, and the pro-capitalist amendments to labour laws.

Asha and Anganwanri workers' DemonstrationTrade Unions, cutting across party affiliations, have been organizing joint protest actions against privatization and the increasing attacks on the livelihood and rights of workers.

An All India Workers Convention was organised by various trade unions, workers’ organisations and federations in Delhi on 28th September 2018. Representatives of workers organisations from different sectors of the economy including defense, banking, insurance, railways, road transport, water transport, post, ports, oil, energy, telecom, mines, steel, coal and heavy engineering, Anganwadi and ASHA workers’ unions participated in the convention. The convention decided to intensify the struggle against the anti-people and anti-national policies of the ruling capitalist class. It called on all workers organisations to prepare for an All India Strike in January 2019.

Earlier, workers celebrated May Day by organizing joint protest marches and meetings all over the country. They expressed their opposition to privatization, increasing use of contract labour and the anti-worker amendments to labour laws. They demanded safety measures at the workplace, guaranteed livelihood and a living wage that can ensure a dignified human existence.

Rail workers, including loco pilots, guards, linesmen and station masters, have been waging struggle against the increasingly exploitative conditions of work, for safer working conditions, and against privatization.

Road Transport workers of Rajasthan Roadways and Haryana Roadways waged prolonged strike struggles to oppose privatization of Road Transport.

Trade Unions of Air India workers have been protesting against decision of the government to privatize Air India.

Bank workers have been carrying out numerous All India protest actions in defence of their rights, and against privatization.

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Lakhs of workers of Delhi participated in a one day strike called by the trade unions on July 20 demanding living wages and an end to contract labour and for their rights as workers.

Workers in the automobile sector have been fighting against the highly exploitative conditions of work and for the right to form unions. In September, 2018, workers from Yamaha India, Myoung Shin Automotive India Pvt. Ltd. and Royal Enfield went on strike in the Oragadam industrial belt near Chennai. The workers of Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar have been waging a valiant struggle in defense of their 13 comrades who have been sentenced to life imprisonment on false charges.

Construction workers all over the country have been demanding implementation of the social security act which was passed after many years of struggle and opposing its dilution. The construction workers of Delhi organized a demonstration on October 4, 2018on this issue.

Government school teachers have been agitating against privatisation of government schools. They have demanding regularization of contractual teachers. 

University teachers and students have been waging struggle against privatisation of higher education.On Teachers’ Day, September 5, 2018, university and college teachers all over the country boycotted the formal celebrations and staged protest actions against the increasing privatization of higher education, cut-backs in funds for education and the increasing attacks on the academic and professional rights and liberties of teachers.

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Doctors and nurses have been waging struggles against their terribly exploitative conditions of work.

AASHA and Anganwadi workers and panchayati raj workers have been waging struggles for their rights.

Contract workers from Badarpur Thermal Power Station (BTPS) have been waging a struggle against the closure of the plant and their illegal retrenchment.

Unemployed youth have been demanding jobs.

2018 has witnessed massive peasant agitations which have engulfed many states of India. Over 200 peasant organisations working in different states of the country have come together under one common banner to wage a united struggle.

The peasants are demanding remunerative prices for their produce of at least one and a half times the cost of production, as per the Swaminathan Commission report, guaranteed state procurement of their produce, waiver of past debts and water for irrigation.

Peasants of Rajasthan have waged prolonged struggles demanding that the government banks and private insurance companies stop defrauding them and pay them their insurance claims when their crops get damaged.

On 5 September 2018, workers and peasant from all across India participated in a protest rally in Delhi to express their anger against capitalists and their government. They staunchly opposed the anti-national, anti-worker, and anti-peasants policies of the government.

On 30th November, peasants organized under the banner of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) organized a rally in front of parliament to press for the pending demands of the farmers.

Women organized many protest actions against rape and violence on women as well sexual attacks on women at the workplace. Massive protests took place all over the country following the horrific Kathua and Unnao rapes.

In the course of these struggles, more and more organisations of workers and peasants, women and youth, are coming together under a common banner of struggle for their rights.

There is growing consciousness that the ruling capitalist class headed by the biggest monopolies is the common enemy of workers, peasants and all working people.

There is also increasing recognition that this ruling class is deliberately spreading anarchy and violence, and communalizing the polity, in order to smash the united struggle of workers and peasants for their rights.

Workers and peasants, women and youth, are coming together to oppose this growing anarchy and violence, the communalization of the polity

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