People's Democracy

Unorganised Workers Strike

A Massive Success In Bengal

A rally taken out on the occasion of the strike in Bengal

THE massive success of the strike action by the unorganised workers in Bengal was a fitting reply to the anti-people outlook of the Congress-led union government. The strike call was given by CITU at an all-India level based on fifteen demands that included minimum wage and social security for the workers in the unorganised sector. More than 1.5 crore of unorganised workers toiling in 60 professions and callings struck work. From workers in the bidi industry to construction workers, from auto rickshaw drivers-helpers to security agency employees — all participated in the strike in a show of solidarity to the demands that had been raised.

The working people of Bengal were felicitated by CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu and by the state CITU leaders Shyamal Chakraborty and Kali Ghosh. They expressed the demand that the union government must create a comprehensive legal instrument through passage of an act to look to the security and interests of the crores of unorganised workers around the country. The Kolkata footpaths were empty of the bustle of hawkers, taxis did not ply, and bank ATM counters were not attended by security agency workers.

The strike was this much of a success in Bengal was certainly, because for the past several months, the CITU units carried out a most intense campaign amongst the unorganised workers on the importance of the success of the strike. Marches have been organised, conventions have been held, and street-corner meetings addressed by the CITU leadership. Most important, the strike remained spontaneous despite the shower of lies and half-truths carried in a large number of but not all TV channels.