The Crossbill Team
In a show of unity, central trade unions and independent sectoral federations and associations have called for a nationwide general strike on May 20, 2025, to protest against the government's anti-labour policies.
The announcement was made at the National Convention of Workers held at Pyare Lal Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday (March 18), where trade union leaders and activists from across the country gathered to voice their opposition to the Modi government's economic and labour policies.
The convention adopted a declaration demanding the immediate scrapping of the four labour codes, the convening of the Indian Labour Conference, and an end to the privatisation of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and public services.
The gathering witnessed the participation of leaders and workers from various sectors, including banking, insurance, coal, steel, ports and docks, electricity, telecom, postal services, railways, defence, roadways, education, healthcare, and water supply.
It also included contract workers, informal sector workers, gig and app-based workers, domestic workers, and scheme workers from Anganwadi, ASHA, and Mid-Day Meal programs.
The convention was marked by fiery speeches condemning the government's pro-corporate stance, accusing it of favouring crony capitalists while ignoring the demands of the working class. Trade union leaders, including Ashok Singh (INTUC), Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC), Harbhajan Singh (HMS), Tapan Sen (CITU), Harish Tyagi (AIUTUC), K Indu Prakash Menon (TUCC), Lata Ben (SEWA), Rajiv Dimri (AICCTU), Jawahar Prasad (LPF), and Ashok Ghosh (UTUC), addressed the convention, reiterating their opposition to the government's policies.
A glimpse of the convention at Pyare Lal Bhavan, New Delhi.
Speakers at the event lashed out at the NDA government for deliberately ignoring the concerns of trade unions for over a decade. They accused the administration of pushing policies that have led to increased joblessness, deepening poverty, and rising inequality. The trade unions warned that the growing monopoly of a few corporate giants is threatening the livelihoods of millions of workers, creating economic instability, and exacerbating social divisions.
The declaration adopted at the convention strongly rejected the government's attempts to divide workers along lines of religion, region, caste, and language.
It asserted that the working class, as the real wealth creators of the nation, would not allow corporate profiteering at their expense.
With a resounding "Enough is enough", the convention vowed to escalate the struggle against the government’s economic policies.
The May 20 general strike is seen as the first step in a series of mass mobilizations planned in the coming months. Trade union leaders warned that if the government does not reverse its course, workers and peasants will intensify their agitation, leading to larger and more decisive actions in the future.
The event concluded with a renewed call for resistance against exploitation, inequality, and injustice, emphasizing that the fight for workers' rights and economic justice will continue with full force.
The announcement was made at the National Convention of Workers held at Pyare Lal Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday (March 18), where trade union leaders and activists from across the country gathered to voice their opposition to the Modi government's economic and labour policies.
The convention adopted a declaration demanding the immediate scrapping of the four labour codes, the convening of the Indian Labour Conference, and an end to the privatisation of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and public services.
The gathering witnessed the participation of leaders and workers from various sectors, including banking, insurance, coal, steel, ports and docks, electricity, telecom, postal services, railways, defence, roadways, education, healthcare, and water supply.
It also included contract workers, informal sector workers, gig and app-based workers, domestic workers, and scheme workers from Anganwadi, ASHA, and Mid-Day Meal programs.
The convention was marked by fiery speeches condemning the government's pro-corporate stance, accusing it of favouring crony capitalists while ignoring the demands of the working class. Trade union leaders, including Ashok Singh (INTUC), Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC), Harbhajan Singh (HMS), Tapan Sen (CITU), Harish Tyagi (AIUTUC), K Indu Prakash Menon (TUCC), Lata Ben (SEWA), Rajiv Dimri (AICCTU), Jawahar Prasad (LPF), and Ashok Ghosh (UTUC), addressed the convention, reiterating their opposition to the government's policies.
A glimpse of the convention at Pyare Lal Bhavan, New Delhi.Speakers at the event lashed out at the NDA government for deliberately ignoring the concerns of trade unions for over a decade. They accused the administration of pushing policies that have led to increased joblessness, deepening poverty, and rising inequality. The trade unions warned that the growing monopoly of a few corporate giants is threatening the livelihoods of millions of workers, creating economic instability, and exacerbating social divisions.
The declaration adopted at the convention strongly rejected the government's attempts to divide workers along lines of religion, region, caste, and language.
It asserted that the working class, as the real wealth creators of the nation, would not allow corporate profiteering at their expense.
With a resounding "Enough is enough", the convention vowed to escalate the struggle against the government’s economic policies.
The May 20 general strike is seen as the first step in a series of mass mobilizations planned in the coming months. Trade union leaders warned that if the government does not reverse its course, workers and peasants will intensify their agitation, leading to larger and more decisive actions in the future.
The event concluded with a renewed call for resistance against exploitation, inequality, and injustice, emphasizing that the fight for workers' rights and economic justice will continue with full force.
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