My congratulations to the leaders of the 11 Central trade Unions who have squarely snubbed the offer of the Central Ministers that they will look in to the demands of the workers raised with the request that the 48 hours strike be withdrawn.

The government very well knows that the demands are fully justified, they are based on the universally accepted principle of trade union rights, based on the statutes of the country and the pressing issues of the people and toiling masses. Each and every demand has been fully explained through resolutions, statements, representations and have been furnished to the government before months back after the Strike resolution was adopted by the National Convention of the Workers held in New Delhi in September 2012. Most of the demands are the same as raised in the One Day Strike called by the Central trade Unions on 28th February 2012.

The government and its Ministers, including the Prime Minister, who find sufficient time to meet the Corporates, MNCs and big business almost every day, concede their unjustified demands for concessions after concessions, did not have time to meet the leaders of the Unions representing more than 12 crore workers for the last 5 months after the Memorandum was given as per the decision of the National Convention. Although Cabinet Ministers A.K.Antony, Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge and P.Chidmabaram were authorised to meet the CTU leaders, Chidambaram did not attend showing scant respect by the Finance Minister. And no assurance was given on the demands except that they can be discussed later. Requesting the unions to withdraw the strike without assuring / conceding even one demand, is nothing short of arrogance of power. It is to the credit of the union leaders that they have given a clear snubbing to the government by continuing with the decision for the strike.

The working class has to react with all its might to make the 48 hours Strike a magnificient and historical struggle in the forward march of the Indian Working Class! Let us march ahead with determination and dedication to the cause of the workers!