Dear Comrades,
February 20 & 21, 2013
General Strike -
Let
us write its historic success
In the National
Convention of Workers called by the 11 Central Trade Unions including INTUC, CITU,
AITUC, BMS etc., a clarion call was made to organise Two Days Strike on 20-21
February 2013 against the anti-worker policies of the Government and demanding
settlement of the issues of the workers, especially in the unorganised sector.
The National Convention of
Workers held on 4th September, 2012 in the capital expressed its deep concern
and anguish at the total non-response of the Govt. to address the burning
Issues of the working people viz containing price-rise, universalisation of
social security rights for unorganized sector workers, ensuring proper minimum
wages, mass scale contractorisation, rampant violation of labour laws and
onslaught on trade union rights etc., despite consistent persuasion by all in
united platform of the entire trade union movement in the country through
various forms of countrywide programmes and agitations in a democratic manner
since last three years. The workers continuous agitations over the years have
been simply ignored and side lined and there is no sign of turn the tables on
its own by the present Government.
The Govt. is continuing the same anti people
economic policy even seeking to enact legislations in all sectors like FDI in
retail and pension that run contrary to the interest of working people and
their social security rights besides generating a severe recessionary impact on
the national economy.
When all the central trade unions irrespective of their political
affiliation are united and issued a strike call to save the nation and its
working class in particular, all the other trade unions and organisations have
no the only option to fall line with the main stream of the working class and
accordingly all the National Federations, All India Unions etc. have already
endorsed the strike call of all the central trade unions and preparing for an
effective strike. As usual, in its own traditions and the policy decision, the NFPE
has already decided and declared to go on strike as per the decisions of the
Confederation and started preparations. FNPO has also decided to join the
strike and accordingly in the postal sector, the call was given on behalf of
the Postal JCA by incorporating the sectional demands of the postal and CG
employees’ demands.
The Confederation and
the Postal JCA have already released its tour programme to organise the workers
for the effective participation in the strike. We cannot be in isolation when
the entire working class agitate to save the workers and the common people from
the retrograde policies of the present Government. Even though we may have some
local problems to organise another strike within two months, we must take it as
a challenge and see the cent per cent participation of our membership. It is
possible and we are capable of it. We are not going to lose big things except
the wages. But it will certainly realise the Govt that the workers are having
the right to strike and will not tolerate any decisions affecting the working
class and the common people at large.
Never before in the
history of the country there has been a nation-wide general strike for two
days. There are no such instances in the past where trade unions irrespective
of their political affiliations have come together in this manner.
It is our boundan duty
to make the strike an historic success in the postal sector. Please organise
Gate Meetings and organise comrades for the massive participation in the
ensuing strike. Please visit all offices and garner support from all corners
duly explaining the justification of demands and our role and responsibilities.
Let us take pledge and organise for the ensuing strike.
AIPEU P3 CHQ
