December 16-31, 2006

Hum tumhare saath hain! Kamgar Ekjuticha Vijay Aso!

A meeting was organized by the Kamgar Ekta Chalwal in Worli on December 10 on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, to support the heroic struggle of the Century Mill workers.

Thousands of leaflets in support of the Century workers were distributed in many areas of the city. Everywhere the comrades went, people told them that they wholeheartedly wished the Century workers success in their fight to save their jobs.

The meeting was attended by about a hundred Century workers of the first shift. It was addressed by representatives of CGPI, Comrade Narayan Ghagre of CPI, SUCI, PMS, Taximen's Union and the residents of BDD Chawls. The meeting was presided over by Justice (Retired) H. Suresh of the Maharashtra High Court, who is the President of Lok Raj Sangathan. In his speech, he made the following points:

· The retirement scheme cannot be called voluntary, because the workers are not asking for it. The management is imposing it, so its should be called CRS or Compulsory Retirement Scheme.

· When the workers take VRS, they are not likely to get any further secure jobs, and will be on the streets. Therefore VRS is against the right to life, which includes to the right to a decent livelihood. Hence for workers VRS is against the Constitution of India,

· He gave the example of what happened to the workers of Kamani and Mukund, where he had personally done the investigations. In this era when small businesses are folding up under the attack of big capital, ex-workers who set up their own small concerns are by and large reduced to penury.

· There is no provision for VRS in the Industrial Disputes Act.

· Land on which Century Mills is located has been leased from the government for setting up a textile mill. If the mill is closed, the government should take the land back and the owners should not be allowed to sell and make huge profits.

· The workers have a right to assemble in front of the gate, and they cannot be prevented under section 144. Police do not have the right to enter the factory. Workers can file an FIR under if they are being harassed and threatened by the management.

In the end he said that he came personally to extend his support to the struggle of the Century Mill workers.

The President of Kamgar Ekta Chalwal and other speakers pointed out that the owners and their chamchas try to terrorize and demoralize the workers by spreading rumours and that we should not believe them. It was important to publicize the struggle of the workers and win greater and greater support from outside the mills as well. It is also important to mobilize the families and well-wishers of the workers to support their struggle. This issue should be made an election issue.

The Century workers who attended the meeting talked angrily about the supervisors and others who are trying to terrorize the workers. " Sitaram Makaria and Gulabrao Kadam are themselves past 60 and working. Why then are they telling us to take VRS? they angrily said. They also expressed their anger at the RMMS. "They say it is the recognized union. Why then is it chup?" They said that workers should not be afraid to struggle. Many workers have already taken back their VRS and others will be following suite.

"Ek pe hamla - sab pe hamla! Keep up your unity, keep up your himmat and fight! Your fight means a lot, not only to you and your families, but also to all the working people of Mumbai. As long as you are ready to fight, we will support you with all our might!" This declaration of the representative of the CGPI was heartily endorsed by all the organizations and people present.