Massive Response to Strike Call

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement: 28 February 2012

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) congratulates the millions of workers and employees throughout the country who have struck work and registered a strong protest against the neo-liberal economic policies being pursued by the UPA government.

The call for the strike was given by the united platform of all Central trade unions. This is the first joint strike call by all the Central trade unions and the all India Federations of employees in various sectors. Reports indicate that over ten crore workers and employees participated in the strike.

The general strike was a huge success in the banking, telecom, defence, insurance, mining, transport, insurance, various public sector units, central and state government offices and departments. Shops and markets remained closed in various places. In many places in West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam, the striking workers had to brave brutal attacks by the police and also large scale arrests. Besides police attacks, the striking workers in West Bengal had to face severe physical attacks by hoodlums let loose by the ruling TMC.

The strike call was given to demand among other things concrete measures to contain price rise; strict enforcement of labour laws; universal social security cover for the unorganized sector workers; against disinvestment of PSUs etc.

The massive response to the strike should serve as a warning to the government that the working people and their unions would not accept such indifference and neglect lying down and they will further intensify their struggle if their basic demands are not addressed. The unity and militancy displayed during this strike should be carried forward for bringing in alternative policies.