Category: Latest posts

January 1, 2010 marked the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution that ended a fascist dictatorial rule. 51 years ago, on January 8, 1959, the Cuban people’s struggle for self-determination triumphed over the dictatorial regime of Batista; the Cuban people had asserted their right to determine their own destiny.

On January 9, 2010, coinciding with the state organised and much publicised Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, workers organisations organised a rally in front of parliament to highlight the complete lack of rights of Indian workers who go abroad for livelihood, as well as workers from other countries who come to India for their livelihood. The workers organisations also raised the issue of lack of rights of internal migrant workers.

The huge almond processing industry of Delhi witnessed a major strike of workers which began on December 15, 2009. Karawal Nagar, where the thousands of subcontract workers live and work, was witness to mass protests and rallies of workers, including women workers, braving the terror of the contractors as well as the terror of the police.

Oil and gas workers of our country held a Conference of their organisation in Mumbai on December 11-12, 2009.

On October 30 and 31, 2009, steel workers and contractors’ workers in the steel industry went on strike. The strike call came from the Steel Workers Federation of India (SWFI).

2.5 lakh Jute workers of West Bengal went on indefinite strike on 14th December, 2009 demanding implementation of previous tripartitite agreements with the owners and the government, as well as payment of Dearness Allowance in context of rising prices.

The National Fishworkers’ Forum along with all the constituent state Trade Unions held a day long sit in protest rally (dharna) in front of parliament in Delhi, on January 11, 2010.

More than 7 lakh construction workers struck work as part of an All-India strike on December 8, 2009. The strike was observed in175 districts of 19 states and in more than 50 big construction projects. The strike was called by the Construction Workers Federation of India(CWFI).

Dear Comrades,
I would like to convey my best wishes to you for the New Year, 2010.  It is the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century.  It is the 30th year in the life of our party.  It promises to be a very significant year in the history of Indian society.

The brutal rape and murder of two young women in Shopian, Kashmir in May 2009 in an area teeming with military and paramilitary forces had led to widespread strikes and demonstrations which continued for over two weeks, in which people demanded that the crime be properly investigated and the guilty servicemen be brought to book for their dastardly acts. (See MEL, June 2009)