Hyderabad, August 25: Claiming that no politics were involved in the All-India general strike called by trade unions on September 7, AITUC general secretary and MP Gurudas Das Gupta today remarked that the economic policies of the Centre have greatly harmed the working class across the country. In fact, all over the world trade unions were coming together against globalisation, he noted.
Addressing a press conference here, Gupta pointed out that India’s economic growth ranging between 8 and 9 percent had only benefited the business community and corporates but not the working class. It was a matter of great satisfaction that INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS and other groups/unions were coming together to fight against the ‘anti-people’ policies being adopted by the Centre. Even the BMS, was also not opposing the strike. The government would be taught a lesson for its failure to curb the price rise and to enforce trade laws.
Convenor of the trade unions forum G Sanjeeva Reddy had said that trade unions were forced to call for the strike following the Centre’s refusal to consider the demands.
The proposed strike was going to be the biggest-ever strike by the workers as all trade unions in the country irrespective of their political affiliations were coming together, he added.
Asked whether the ‘tri-colour and red colour flags would come together to fight on public issues even after the general strike, the AITUC leader said that the unions would continue to work together.
The AITUC would call for a Workers’ Parliament in Delhi to discuss the future action programme in order to further intensify the struggle if the Central government fails to respond to the trade unions’ demands.
At present, workers were in distress due to the price rise, job losses and non-implementation of labour laws. As part of the agitational programme, employees working in banks, insurance, posts, defence, electricity and other sectors would participate in the strike, he added.
State AITUC leaders PJ Chandrasekhar Rao and T Laxminarayana were also present.
–Agencies