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Haryana’s historic victory shows the way
On behalf of CITU, we congratulate the Haryana electricity employees and engineers on their recent historic victory. More than 40,000 of them brought the State’s power system to a standstill in a 48-hour statewide strike and forced the Government to issue a policy direction under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003, against the grant of a parallel distribution licence to a private company for Gurugram and Nuh. Under the impact of the strike, the Chief Minister publicly declared that parallel licensing would not be allowed in Haryana. Farmers’ organisations, other trade unions and ordinary consumers stood with the strikers, even through prolonged power and water cuts.
The Haryana victory has shown that united struggle can defeat privatisation and corporate greed.
Massive statewide mobilisations in Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Assam
The spirit of Haryana is echoed in the massive statewide mobilisations organised by CITU in Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Assam. Workers in these States came out in large numbers to raise their own issues and the central demand of the working class: roll back the Labour Codes.
Alongside these State-level actions, scheme workers across the country are mobilising with increasing militancy. They are demanding recognition as workers, along with minimum wages and statutory benefits. Their struggles have become one of the most determined currents in the present movement.
Resistance is rising on every front
The ongoing struggles must be seen in their totality and continuity:
● The nine-month-long wave of spontaneous workers’ protests across the country, which began after the 12 February General Strike;
● Student-youth movements;
● Militant kisan struggles;
● The growing movement against SIR, with millions threatened with disenfranchisement and workers, migrants and the poor being the most affected.
The attacks on voting rights have sharpened the people’s assertion for democracy. As the movement against SIR spreads, the BJP finds itself increasingly isolated politically.
These struggles are many, but they face one adversary: the same policies of the Government serving big business. What they need now is a common direction and a national platform. The March to Parliament on 1 December will be that galvanising point. It will bring all these streams together, link sectoral and local battles with the national demands of the working class, and give them national visibility.
Preparations in full swing in all States
Reports reaching the CITU All India Centre show that preparations are in full swing in every State. Around 40,000 train tickets have already been booked by participants from distant States.
From Kerala to Jharkhand, and from Rajasthan to West Bengal, workers are coming to Delhi. Gate meetings, door-to-door campaigns, padayatras, vehicle jathas, wall writing, street plays, and leaflet and poster campaigns are reaching workers in factories, plantations, transport depots and workers’ colonies. Travel funds are being raised, families of participants are being met, and local send-off programmes are being organised along with AIKS and AIAWU.
The March will be one of the biggest mobilisations ever seen on the streets of Delhi.
The demands of the March
● Repeal the Labour Codes. Reinstate MGNREGA.
● Recognise scheme workers as WORKERS, with minimum wages, EPF, ESI, gratuity and other statutory benefits. Pending this, increase their remuneration immediately.
● Ensure a minimum wage of Rs 42,000 for all workers, a minimum income of Rs 42,000 for the self-employed, and a universal minimum pension of Rs 21,000.
● Fill all vacancies, regularise contract workers engaged in permanent work, and ensure equal pay for equal work in the interim.
● Stop deliberate violations of safety norms, take action against those violating statutory rights, and stop the criminalisation of trade union activities and strikes.
● Protect people’s rights over Jal-Jameen-Jungle, stop land grabbing, and ensure Rehabilitation–Resettlement–Recruitment for the displaced.
● Scrap SIR and demand the resignation of the CEC.
CITU calls upon the Government to respect the workers of this country, sit down with their organisations, and resolve the long-pending issues. If it refuses, the working class will intensify its struggle through massive, multi-day actions across the country in the coming months.
Issued by,
(Sudip Dutta)
President
(Elamaram Kareem)
General Secretary
28.10.2026
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Join the Nationwide Protest on 23 October 2026 by the National Platform “People Against SIR”
“Har hath me Tiranga and Har Gali me Jantar Mantar
In Every Hand the Tricolour and in Every Street a Jantar Mantar”
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) calls upon the working class and the people of India to join the Nationwide protest on 23 October 2026 called by the National Platform “People Against SIR” in large numbers.
CITU is an active part of the National Platform “People Against SIR” along with a broad spectrum of organisations and networks representing farmers, workers, agricultural workers, women, youth, students, Adivasis, minorities, Dalits and disabled as well as progressive individuals, artists, intellectuals and civil rights activists came together to constitute the platform.
CITU leaders, activists and members will join the protest at the states/districts/local levels on 23 October 2026 demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation/sacking of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CITU has observed a nationwide campaign week against SIR from 16 to 22 October 2026 with gate meetings, group meetings, street corner meetings etc.
The SIR has disenfranchised 13 crore voters and deprived them of their voting rights. Most of them are unorganised and migrant working people who are being made to run from pillar to post, foregoing their daily earnings, to enrol themselves as voters, a right to which they are constitutionally entitled. Further, with the implementation and operationalisation of the Labour Codes, particularly the Code on Social Security, which mandates an identity card prescribed by the Central Government for enrolment under the social security boards and to become beneficiaries, the disenfranchised workers may also be deprived of their entitlement to social security benefits and other government welfare schemes. Hence, the SIR-led disenfranchisement will lead to the denial of workers' rights. The scrapping of SIR is therefore essential to ensure workers' rights to social security.
CITU calls upon its units and affiliated unions to coordinate with the other constituents of “People against SIR” and ensure massive participation and success of the protest.
The working class is determined to regain the voting rights of all citizens who have been wrongfully disenfranchised by this Election Commission.
Issued by,
Elamaram Kareem
General Secretary
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