Countrywide General Strike on 23-24 February, 2022
Call of the NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS
held on 11th November 2021, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
6th December, 2021, New Delhi:
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent sectoral All India Federations and Associations met in Delhi on 3 December, 2021 and finalized the dates for the Countrywide 2-days’ General Strike, on 23-24 February 2021 during the budget session of the Parliament as announced by the National Convention of Workers held on 11″ November 2021 at New Delhi, against the anti people, anti-worker and anti-national destructive policies of the BUP Govt. at the centre.
The main slogan of the strike will be SAVE THE PEOPLE AND SAVE THE NATION.
It was decided to hold joint preparatory public meetings in co-ordination with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leadership, especially in the states that are to go to polls in the beginning of 2022, to strengthen the call of “Mission UP”, “Mission Uttarakhand” given by the SKM. The Joint Platform of Trade Unions & Federations reiterated its continued proactive support to the programmes and struggles decided by SKM, following repeal of the Farm Laws.
The State Units of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations will carry out intensive campaign jointly through various forms — such as state conventions, human chains, torchlight processions, signature campaigns, sectoral and area-based joint campaign and agitation etc-to expose the consequences of the anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people, pro-corporate and anti-national destructive policies by the Govt. of India which have brought the lives and livelihood of the entire people and also the country’s economy to the brink of disaster. Already many struggles and agitations are going on in many sectors on the same issues at the initiative of the constituents of Joint Platform. The Joint Platform also welcomes and supports the decision of two days countrywide strike in Banks on 16-17 December 2021 as decided by United Forum of Bank Unions and also the strike decision by Electricity Employees’ joint forum on 1st February 2021-all against privatization move and retrograde legislative move in that direction. Our United Struggle is not only to save the rights and lives/livelihood of people but also save the country’s economy and the entire democratic system and the society as a whole from disaster and destruction being engineered by the authoritarian forces in governance with the active support of private corporate, both domestic and foreign and decisively defeat the disastrous policy regime and their political operators in governance.
The farmers’ movement has snatched a historic victory by forcing the arrogant Modi govt. to repeal the 3 farm laws. Now the cross sections of the Working People must heighten their united intervention further to demand a halt to this process of assault on lives and livelihood, employment, alarming intensity of impoverishment and hunger, assault on democracy and also unity of the people and thereby save our dear nation from disaster.
We have to demand from all political parties of the nation to incorporate “protection of right to work, living wage, free quality health-care and education-facility to all citizens and all legitimate constitutional rights” as a firm commitment in their political manifestos for the coming assembly elections in 2022 and for the elections scheduled for 2024 and take oath publicly to fulfill their assurances and to support the demands of workers, farmers and all people of the country if they come to power.
The recent repeal of 3 Farm Laws and marginal reduction in central taxes on petrol/diesel in the face of determined long-drawn united struggles by the farmers along with countrywide solidarity actions by the working people and people at large demonstrating rising popular anger and unrest, is also a reflection cum reaction under compulsion of the debacle faced by the ruling party in the centre in the recent by-elections. And therefore, intensification of the united struggle in continuity determined to combat and defeat the anti-people policies and the regime is the way before us. Let that determination be demonstrated in the forthcoming countrywide two days’ general strike.
We have to heighten our united struggle resolutely pressing for our demands, particularly for
1. Scrapping the Labour Codes; Scrapping of EDSA
2. Accept 6-point charter of demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha,
3. No to Privatisation in any form and scrap the NMP;
4. Food and Income Support of Rs 7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
5. Increased allocation for MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to urban areas;
6. Universal social security for all informal sector workers;
7. Statutory Minimum wage and social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other scheme workers;
8. Proper protection and insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of pandemic;
9. Increase in public investment in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national economy;
10. Substantial reduction in Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to arrest price rise.
11. Regularisation of contract workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all
12. Cancellation of NPS and restoration of old pension; substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees Pension Scheme
Along with other demands already formulated and being pressed for and pursued by the Joint Platform of CTUs and Federations/Associations.
Forward to the 2-days countrywide General Strikes on 23-24 February 2022 during the Budget session of Parliament.
“SAVE THE PEOPLE AND SAVE THE NATION’.