The Central Trade Unions (CTUs) namely INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC in their meeting on 21st August 2019, at Delhi congratulated the defense employees for successful strike from 20th August in all industrial, non-industrial (Clerical, office staff) defense production units,Junior Officers, Charge Hands have walked out of 41 ordnance factories (OF) as declared almost a month back, against Modi Government’s plans to corporatize and then to privatise them. This move of the Government will put national security at risk and hence is anti-national.

The Government wants these 41 Indian Ordnance Factories to produce Rs. 30,000 Cr worth of goods by 2024. The Unions have accepted the challenge, but want the government to assure them that the plans to corporatize the ordnance factories will be shelved.

The workmen in essential services like fire-fighting, water and electric supply, hospitals in the Ordnance Factories colonies have also struck work, but are back manning those services voluntarily, foregoing the salaries for the days of strikes.

This massive strike has been peaceful, except in West Bengal, where the oldest ordnance factories are situated. There are reports that the Police lathi-charged the striking workers, injuring scores of them, four seriously. We condemn this unprovoked lathi-charge.

The CTUs call upon the Modi Government to pay heed to the voice of these soldiers behind the lines, who have struck work not for any of their immediate financial demands but for guaranteeing the supply lines to our Armed Forces. The Government’s plans of corporatization of ordnance factories will jeopardize just that guarantee.

CTUs also extended their support to the agitations being carried out for almost a month against the move of corporatisation of production units in Railways with an eye on its huge lands and resources actually to pave way for privatisation to benefit corporate houses. It is hearting to note that the family members of the affected employees are also participating in these agitations.

We call upon all our affiliated unions and Independent Federations/Associations to organise solidarity action programmes on 27th August throughout the Country in support of striking defense employees and agitating railway employees.

INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC

TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC

[Date : 23 – Aug – 2019]