The Central Trade Unions (CTUs) namely INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in its National Open Mass Convention of Workers held on 30^th September 2019, at Parliament Street, New Delhi, chalking out programme of campaign at various levels in stages to culminate in a National General Strike on 8^th January 2020, (The declaration is attached which lists all concerns of the national strike action)

The campaign has been carried out successfully with state level joint conventions in almost all the states, industry wise sectoral unions’ national meetings, regional and district level conventions in some states, padyatras and jatha campaign in some of the states on the issues of strike etc. Apart from these joint activities in preparations of strike, all the constituents of CTUs conducted campaign on their own through their organised units at different level. Disbursal of several lakhs of posters, handbills, pamphlets jointly and independently by respective CTUs, by, federations/associations and by the respective unions as well was part of the extensive campaign. The strike notices have been served by the unions after such decision already taken in case of defence railways,

The Ministry of Labour failed to assure on any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on 2^nd January 2020. The attitude of the Government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions.  It is more than 4 years, there is no Indian Labour conference since the last held in July 2015. The last meeting held with Group of Ministers constituted to discuss 12 point charter of demands was held in August 2015. Since then nothing proceeded in that regard. Total disregard to Tripartism and Bipartism is the policy of this Government, as is expressive from its bulldozing the labour laws & forced codification with total disregard to any of the views of the trade unions.

The Government failing to tackle crises ridden economy is busy in privatizing and selling PSUs, natural resources and other national assets which is detrimental to the national interest and national development. 12 Airports are already sold out to private hands, 100% sale of Air India is already decided, decision to sell BPCL taken, BSNL-MTNL merger announced  and 93600 telecom workers already thrown out of jobs under the garb of VRS. The privatization of railways is being pursued in steps, the auctioning of platforms is on,  attempts to privatize railway production units being made, almost 150 private trains planned to be run at the cost of services to the common man and efficient running of trains by Indian railways, there is decision to corporatize 49 defence production units deferred  for the time being in face of opposition of unions, forcible merger of Banks despite opposition from employees and officers unions, 100% FDI in coal sector also on the cards after such decisions in case of defence, railways, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry, security services, retail trade etc. Privatization of power and road transport as well as encouragement to private insurance companies of Indian and foreign origin to weaken our public sector in insurance are being pursued. It is a policy to put the national assets and resources on sale.

It is heartening to note that the joint platform of more than 175 farmers and agricultural workers unions came together in National Convention on 29-30 November, 2019 and decided to extend their support to workers demands and to observe 8^th January 2020 as Gramin Bharart Bandh along with their charter of demands. They are pursuing their campaign.

Another great additions of convergence action on that day is the declaration by about 60 organisations of students and elected office bearers of some universities to extend their solidarity and with their agenda in regard to raised fee structures and opposition to commercialization of education, having decided to join the strike action on 8^th January 2020. There have been attacks on students and teachers in various university campuses, the latest one being yesterday night, the brutal attack by motivated goons on students-teachers of JNU. We condemn such attacks and express our solidarity with students and teachers all over India.

We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forth coming National General Strike on 8^th January 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government.  

INTUC  |  AITUC  |  HMS  |  CITU  |  AIUTUC  |  TUCC  |  SEWA  |  AICCTU  |  LPF  |  UTUC

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) strongly condemns the brutal and barbaric attacks by the ABVP goons on the students of JNU including the President of JNUSU, Aishe Ghosh today evening.  The ABVP- RSS goons from outside entered hostels even the girls hostels and indiscriminately attacked the students with sharp weapons.

The teachers were also attacked. Around 18 students got injured and fifteen are in AIIMS trauma center. Many including Aishie got head injuries. Two students got serious injuries. Two faculty members have been injured and one is admitted.

In last few days, the ABVP people were continuously attacking the students who are on a struggle for the past 70 days. Today, 5 January,
around two hundred RSS - ABVP goons from outside entered the campus and attacked a gathering organized by the JNUTA for peace in the campus.
The  police was called but they were not preventing the attackers but rather facilitating them. We strongly condemn the attitude of Delhi police and JNU administration for facilitating the RSS criminals.

CITU calls upon all its state committees, affiliated unions, members and the people of the country to immediately protest against these attacks. This attacks shows the desperation of the RSS led right wing forces who are getting isolated from the people by the growing protests against the CAA and the anti people policies of the government.

Issued by
Tapan  Sen
General Secretary

The Central Trade Unions conveyed their firm resolve after the meeting called by Union Labour Minister.    

The Central Trade Unions were invited by the Labour Minister for a discussion today, 2nd January 2020 at New Delhi.

In the meeting, Labour Minister in his initial comments stated that the Govt of India has been taking all steps for the welfare of the workers and legislations on Labour Codes are a part of that.

The constituents of united platform of trade unions viz., AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC who were present in the meeting strongly contradicted and protested the statement of the Minister and stated that the entire Labour Codes are a design of imposing slavery on the workers and it is not acceptable to the trade union movement of the country and they will not surrender.

None of the issues which have been continuously raised by the Central Trade Unions, including the basic issues of unemployment, minimum wages and social security were addressed by the Minister. Doing away with all democratic practices, the government has not called the tripartite Indian Labour Conference after 2015. The unions further stated that against such anti labour policies of the Govt, along with other issues, the central trade unions have decided to go in for a countrywide General Strike on 8th January 2020 and the strike stands. The strike is going to take place in a massive way throughout the country with the active support of various sections including the peasantry.

The central trade unions further warned that the govt must take the message and mend their ways and change the anti labour anti people anti national moves and policies.

Issued by
Tapan Sen
on behalf of 

INTUC |  AITUC |  HMS |  CITU |  AIUTUC |  TUCC |  SEWA |   AICCTU |  LPF |  UTUC

CITU - Congratulates the People for their Spontaneous Response Braving Government’s Onslaughts; Denounces Police Atrocities on Peaceful Protesters; and Calls Upon the People to Extend Support to the General Strike on January 8, 2020.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) welcomes and greets all sections of the people for their countrywide spontaneous response to the call for protest mobilizations on 19^th December 2019 against the infamous Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which is an outrageous onslaught on the Indian Constitution and the right to equality irrespective of religion, caste and creed as enshrined in the Constitution. In all states and UTs, people in tens of thousands demonstrated their strong protest against and disapproval of the Citizenship Amendment Act through rallies, dharnas, demonstrations etc.

CITU condemns police atrocities in many parts of the country against the peaceful protest demonstrations/rallies. At many places, particularly in the BJP-ruled states and in NCT Delhi, police resorted to physical intimidations, prohibitory orders, lathi charge, mass scale arrests of the leaders and activists etc; injuring several hundreds of people; killing two persons in police firing in Mangalore and one person in Lucknow. More such reports are pouring in.

Earlier, at the dictate of the Central Government, students’ protest in Jamia Milia University was sought to be crushed by Delhi Police even entering the University campus, girls hostels at night with nefarious intent to create atmosphere of terror to suppress all kinds of democratic protests.

The united platform of Central Trade Unions and Federations in a joint statement issued on 17^th December 2019 denounced the anti-constitutional Citizenship Amendment Act  and its divisive and disruptionist intent; demanded to repeal this infamous Act; and called upon the working class to voice their protest and disapproval.

The Declaration of the National Convention of Workers, held on 30^th September 2019, calling for countrywide general strike on 8^th January 2020 had emphatically denounced the divisive, disruptive and undemocratic machinations of the Govt. through various measures like abrogation of Article 370; draconian amendment of UAPA Act; announcing NRC process to begin in all states etc. for communal polarization and also aiming to cover up their misdeeds and failures in all fronts. The Joint Declaration of Central Trade Unions called for defeating these destructive and conspiratorial designs through countrywide general strike on 8^th January 2020.

CITU calls upon the people to unitedly build strong opposition to CAA and follow it up with the battle cry of  general strike on 8^th January 2020 with determination to defeat the nefarious game-plan of the Govt. and to defend the rights and livelihood of the workers and the people; Country’s Constitution; national economy and its self reliance.   

Issued by
(Tapan Sen)
General Secretary

The BJP government amidst strong protest in the Parliament had passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to keep away a section of people living in India by striping their right as citizen. They have imposed religious criteria in considering certain sections of people violating provisions of our Constitution. Such discrimination was created to cover up their lapses found in imposition of National Register of Citizenship in Assam and to advance their communal agenda throughout the country. Nineteen Lakh of people in Assam has been removed from the register declaring them as outsiders in India and confined thousands in detention camps where living conditions are inhuman and people are facing death due to lack of health care. The CAA also overturned the carefully balanced agreement arrived in 1985 through Assam Accord. Similar imposition is now being planned in other states where detention camps are being ordered to construct where the workers and particularly migrant workers will be the worse sufferer.

This ill afford of BJP Govt. has caused wide spread protest in all over the country when three persons were killed in police firing in Assam, students and other people were brutally attacked by police and goons in JNU, AMU, Jamia Milia University, etc. injuring many, also en mass arresting peaceful protesters. Even sanctity of these institutions was breached by police who never bothered to ask permission from the Vice Chancellors.   

The central Trade Unions anxiously observe that the BJP Govt. is creating discrimination which may division the country and may cause widespread discontent among people irrespective of religion, caste and creeds. This is also being used to deviate attention from the present crisis and to create divide among the unified protest of the working people against the anti people policies of the BJP Govt.

The Central Trade Unions demand of the Govt. to repeal CAA, not to proceed with NRC and stop police atrocity on the protesters. We call upon all affiliated unions to organise wide campaign among the workers participate to the protest actions.

        INTUC                      AITUC                     HMS                      CITU                  AIUTUC

          TUCC                SEWA                       AICCTU                      LPF                    UTUC

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) unequivocally condemns the brutal attacks unleashed by the Delhi Police, perpetrating this crime at the instance of Central Home Ministry, against the Students of Jamia Millia Islamia Central University when they took out a peaceful protest march against the unconstitutional Citizenship (Amendments) Act on Sunday. The hired agents and provocateurs were deliberately engaged to go berserk and arson with the connivance of police, so as to bring disrepute to the peaceful procession of Jamia’s Students. On these pretext, Delhi Police attacked the students mercilessly and beaten up students-both boys and girls. Then the police barged into the JMI University campus without the permission of either Vice Chancellor or Proctor and continued the attacks even in the reading rooms and restrooms and dragged students out of the library and the mosque, and assaulted them heavily.  Some men in civilian dresses attacking girl Students went on viral in the social media. In these Police brutalities scores of students have sustained grievous injuries. Some victim students are said to be critical and one student, we learnt that succumbed to this barbaric acts. More than 100 students were arrested.

We congratulate the initiatives of JNU Students, immediately hearing upon this police assaults, hundreds of students, youths and general public at large gathered outside the Delhi Police Headquarters close to midnight defying the freezing cold demanding immediate release of detained students and then around 35 of them were released around 3.30 am at early hours on Monday.

CITU demands the Central government that the rest of the arrested students be released immediately and suspension of all officers of Delhi police who were responsible for these reprehensible actions. CITU, expresses the unflinching support and solidarity with the brave students of Jamia Millia Islamia Central University who are fighting to protect the secular and democratic Constitution of India.

(TAPAN SEN)
General Secretary

CITU condemns RSS-led BJP’s Modi government for getting the discriminatory Citizens' Amendment Bill (CAB) hurriedly passed by the Parliament and converting it as an Act after immediate Presidential assent. This is the blackest act in the country’s legislative history.

It is an attack on the secular, democratic and equality based inclusive foundation of the Constitutions of India; an assault on the humanity perpetrated by the communal forces guided by fascistic ideology to change the basic character of India’s Constitution towards ‘Hindu Rashtra’.  

The working class, who are already battling against the aggressive neoliberal policy regime; must rise to the occasion and defeat the BJP government’s machination to divide the people and suppress their movement against economic and social exploitation and repression.  

Despite CAB becoming a law its implementation can be defeated by the people through united struggle at every stage and in every front. People are already on the street in different parts of the country opposing the CAB and the Act. Trade union movement must take the lead.

CITU calls upon the workers and united trade union movement in general and  CITU units and the unions in particular to unitedly launch countrywide movement to defeat implementation of BJP government’s Citizenship Amendment Act; and join all other sections of the toiling masses in the countrywide democratic movement against it.

(Tapan Sen)
General Secretary, CITU