Srinagar, May 1 (KNS): To mark International Labour Day, amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, workers of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) unfurled red flags atop their houses across Jammu Kashmir as a mark of respect for the workers, who have lost their life during working across the world.
As per the statement issued to Kashmir news service (KNS),In his message, CITU J&K President Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami saluted the working class and all sections of toiling people across the world who, suffering huge personal losses due to Covid-19 and risking their own lives, have been striving to bring the economy back on wheels and safeguard the lives of others.
We pay rich tributes to Chicago martyrs, who fought for the rights of the working class. The working class all over the world can never forget the revolutionary sacrifices and achievements of the heroic struggle of 1886 in Chicago. This heroic struggle for an 8-hour day will be recalled.
The tradition of Kashmir has always been the sacrifices of the working class and we are hopeful that it will continue. The Zaldagar martyrs of 1865 laid the foundation of a struggle against the exploitation and atrocities on the artisans, a prominent section of the working class. The Shawlbaff protest launched at Zaldagar against the ruling class has given vent to numerous movements of the working class which are awaiting successful culmination.
In recent years, the condition of the working class has been affected the most in Jammu and Kashmir. Daily wagers need-based, seasonal, casual Labours, ASHA’s under NHM, Anganwadi workers and helpers, Mid Day Meal workers, CPWs, MGNREGA employees, contractual, construction workers, artisans are without wages for months and the situation since last two years has worsened their financial problems further. The J&K administration must immediately release their pending wages.
It is a shame that in this situation when the working class, particularly the unorganised workers are suffering from losses of job, wages and incomes, the Central government and various BJP ruled state governments have diluted labour laws. They want to reverse the gains and achievement of the working class which have been earned after sacrifices and struggles. This is a serious challenge to the working-class movement.
On this May Day the CITU extends fraternal solidarity to the workers and working people all over the world, who are bravely fighting the Covid pandemic on the one hand and the attacks of the ruling classes and their agents in governance on their livelihood, rights and working conditions, on the other.
The Covid pandemic has exposed the ugly, cruel and barbarous face of the capitalist system – a system which despite unprecedented advances in science and technology, fails to meet the basic needs of most of the people and protect their lives; a system where health is not a basic right of citizens but reserved only for those who can buy it. Health, education, housing, food are increasingly going out of the reach of the poor. The number of working poor has increased during the pandemic. Millions have lost their jobs.
The CITU congratulates the working class, the farmers and all sections of toiling people for their heroic resistance against anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies of the BJP government. The CITU asserts that the only way to overcome the present crisis due to the Covid -19 pandemic as well as the already existing global economic crisis is for the workers and all sections of toiling people to unite and not to fall prey to communal and divisive policies being pursued by the ruling class.
The CITU expresses its heartfelt gratitude at the invaluable services being rendered by all the front line health workers, the doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, the sanitation workers and all other workers, risking their lives to safeguard the lives of others.(KNS)