One million Contract and Informal workers on Strike today

Press Release: 7 September 2010, New Delhi

One million Contract and Informal workers rise against Price Rise and Deregulation of Labour

Contract and rural workers on strike in Barnala
Photograph sent by Sher Singh Parwahi

Close to one million workers, who are members of NTUI affiliates across the country, joined the General Strike called by all national trade union centres today to fight price rise and resist disinvestment of the public sector. Toady’s general strike, was not just a strike against capital it also, made history since it brought to the fore more workers in a general strike than ever before.

NTUI, representing the largest membership of contract workers, and representing large sections of other informal workers, mobilised large numbers of the working class to join this General Strike and ensure it succeeds in all sectors and regions! In addition to the 5-point charter agreed upon at the National Convention of Workers, NTUI has raised the demands of: living wage for all working people; progressive elimination of contract work and a regenerated public sector.

The General Strike was made successful with the participation unprecedented number of contract workers from engineering, powerloom, fertiliser, and chemical industries as well as contract workers employed in hospitals, sanitation, electricity, shipyard, transport, and cargo departments; rural workers; Asha, aanganwadi, and domestic workers; auxiliary nurse midwives; brick kiln and construction workers; government employees, bank employees, ITI and para teachers; unemployed railway linesman and contract railway workers.

NTUI has been successful in including new sections of the working people to join the strike. Large rallies in support of the strike have been organised by the contract workers and unorganised sector affiliates of NTUI were held across the country. The NTUI also held joint programmes with other national trade union centres across Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashta and Punjab.

Marking a new height, NTUI affiliates were able to deepen the strike in the private sector. In many multinational firms – including Areva, DHL and Siemens – workers joined the general strike for the first time

Auxiliary Nurse Midwives on strike in Jalandhar
Photograph sent by H Dosanjh

The NTUI resolves to intensify the struggle for a Living Wage for all Working People, Progressive Elimination of Contract Work and a Regenerated Public Sector and to work towards building a united, democratic and militant trade union movement.

Ashim Roy
General Secretary
New Trade Union Initiative