CENTRAL  TRADE  UNIONS  HOLD  RALLY  AT RANI  RASMONI  ROAD, KOLKATA,  IN  SUPPORT  OF  28th FEBRUARY 2012  STRIKE 

             The strike  called on 28.02.2012 by all Central Trade Unions ---- CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS, UTUC, HMS etc. ----  is going to be the first strike in independent India in which all recognised central trade unions are participants. The main demands are against price rise, lay-offs and for minimum wages and workers' rights  and totally against the neoliberal economic attacks and anti-labour policies of the Central Govt.

              In today's meeting in Kolkata, which is a part of nationwide campaign for the strike, Com. Tapan Sen, Gen. Secretary, CITU, Com. Gurudas Dasgupta, Gen. Secretary, AITUC, G.Sanjeev Reddy, President, INTUC et. al. were present. Significantly, despite being a live member of Rajya Sabha from Congress, Sri Reddy has campaigned against the policy of the Congress-led Central Govt and called for absolute unity of the working class. 

            Reddy said, "Political parties win or lose elections every five years, but workers remain and it is their interest which is foremost. We are giving more importance to our unity than political parties. Unity of trade unions was more important than political parties' stand on workers' interests.".
      Addressing the rally, CITU general secretary Com. Tapan Sen said, "Our movement is against the Centre's neo-liberalism, anti-labour policies and unbridled price rise and for securing workers' rights. Com. Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC) said, "When Kingfisher faces a crisis, the Prime Minister meets the owner to find a way-out, but he does not have time to listen to the problems of workers. Finance minister ({Pranab Mukherjee) is happy that the prices of vegetables have gone down, but has the prices of other essentials gone down?". 

       Due to bad climate over the city sky for the last couple of days, the program needed to be cut short than scheduled. Later the leaders also spoke to the media. But we are sure that tomorrow the majority of media will blackout the news as usual. We have to shoulder the responsibility of campaign again.