Nawanshahr, May 20 - Rally and demonstration were held in Nawanshahr after the strike of Indian Trade Union Federation (IFTU). After taking out a rally at the local bus stand, demonstration was held in the city and a memorandum was handed over to the District Administration in the name of the President. Addressing the rally on this occasion, State Press Secretary of IFTU Punjab Jasbir Deep said that when the strength of the working class weakens, the rulers attack the interests of the workers.
At present, a large part of the working class of the country is under the influence of economist, reformist and revisionist trade unions, who are misleading the workers instead of giving necessary guidance to the working class. This practice of theirs is serving the capitalists. He said that 10 central trade unions of the country had called for a nationwide strike on May 20, but they announced the postponement of the strike on May 15, that too at a time when the working class of the country was fully prepared for the strike.
These trade unions have no solid basis to postpone the strike. The postponement of the strike has caused disappointment among the workers of the country. He said that the decision of the Central Committee of IFTU to go on strike on May 20 for the interests of the workers was upheld, which was also implemented in Punjab. He said that the beginning of new economic policies in 1991 and the peak of the Ram Mandir movement, the demolition of Babri Masjid and then the terrible communal riots.
Their timing is also the same and it is unnatural, that is, not planned. The passion of communalism and ultra-nationalism keeps people entangled in emotional issues. This is an effective weapon to maintain loyalty to the interests of the capitalists. The fascist people in power at the Centre are using them very efficiently. Overall, today the working class is not only facing the aggressive corporate class, but also Hindu fascist forces. Iftu District President Gurdayal Rakkad, District Secretary Parveen Kumar Nirala, Asha Worker and Facilitator Union District President Shakuntala Saroy, Rajwinder Kaur Kat, Rehri Mazdoor Union President Hare Ram, Kishore Kumar, Nirman Mazdoor Union Vice President Om Prakash and Rural Mazdoor Union District Leader Kamaljit Sanawa said that today the working class is facing big challenges. There is a need to build a fierce organized labor movement to face these challenges.
He said that the four labor codes are a deadly attack on the working class by the Modi government. These four labor codes are - 'Industrial Relations Code-2020', 'Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code-2020', 'Social Security Code-2020' and 'Wages Code-2019'. These labor codes are robbery on the basic rights of workers like organizing, struggling and striking.
This proves that for the Modi government, the working class is only the basis of the profits of the capitalists. The leaders said that the workplaces of the working class are extremely unsafe, due to which workers keep dying in accidents every day, but the governments do not take any concrete steps against the guilty employers. There is no guarantee of jobs for temporary employees and scheme workers.
The leaders demanded the repeal of all four labor codes, implementation of existing labor laws, strict safety measures to prevent industrial accidents, action against factory inspectors who are negligent in preventing safety violations, stopping privatization, sale and payment of public institutions and properties.
Strengthening of labour departments and provision of adequate staff in them, proper functioning of labour courts and tribunals, implementation of old pension scheme, cancellation of new pension scheme, giving status and rights of government employees to women working under ASHA, Mid-Day-Meal, Anganwadi and other central schemes, minimum wage should be Rs. 26,000 per month across the country, regularisation of contract workers, implementation of "equal pay for equal work" rule, minimum pension for all workers should be made equal to minimum wage, construction of ESI hospitals in every district, formation of board for transport workers, they demanded implementation of Migrant Workers Act between states, compulsory registration of Indian workers working abroad and ensuring their wages and security by entering into agreements with foreign governments.
A resolution was passed in the rally strongly condemning the arrest of leaders of Bhumi Acquisition Sangharsh Samiti, activists and rural labour union leaders by the police. Later, a protest was held in the city and a memorandum addressed to the President was submitted to the district administration.
On this occasion, Hari Lal, Jagira Bains, Bharat Kumar, auto union leader Taranjit, Raju, Rajinder, Tej Raj, Azad, Mukesh Kumar, Sarvesh Gupta, Gopal, Ghanaiya and other leaders were also present.