May Day celebrated with fervour at Padgha:

“Struggle is our slogan!”

“Down with the unjust owners of Jaj International!” “Long live the fighting unity of the workers of Jaj International!” “Workers of all countries unite!” were some of the slogans which were rendered at the Padgha area on May 1, 2008. The workers of Padgha commemorated May Day in a very fitting manner indeed!

Workers belonging to the Ladaku Garment Mazdoor Sangh held a militant demonstration at the gates of Jaj International. Union leader Comrade Shekar explained how the management had deprived the workers of provident fund, weekly offs, EPF and other rights, while forcibly making each of them sign a receipt of Rs 10,000 as monthly wages! By changing the name of the company, the owners are carrying on the same business at the same premises as earlier, so that they may escape paying compensation to those workers who were unjustly removed from their jobs earlier.  He pointed out that the union is waging a determined struggle against these dark activities, both on the streets as well as in the courts.

Jaj international is known to be a very profitable group in the garment sector. It has a factory at Padgha village near Thane in Maharashtra, employing about 500 workers. Most of them are working either on daily wages or on ‘piece rate’ basis. For the last several years, the owners have used many devious means to loot the workers and deprive them of their rights, against which the workers have been struggling. Kamgar Ekta Chalwal, Lok Raj Sangathan and Communist Ghadar Party of India have been supporting this struggle from the beginning.

The comrade of the Kamgar Ekta Chalwal pointed out that the management, which had never given a holiday on May Day earlier, had suddenly declared a holiday this year because they got to know about the demonstration which had been planned. The speaker of the Lok Raj Sangathan said that the struggle commenced by the workers of Chicago for an 8 – hour working day 120 years ago will have to be waged again by the workers of India!

The speaker of the Communist Ghadar Party of India declared that only by ending the capitalist system could the workers ensure peace and happiness in their lives. Pointing towards the young workers in the demonstration, he said that when the young workers are firmly determined, their victory is a certainty. 

After the demonstration at the factory gate, a rally was taken out through the streets of Padgha village. Hundreds of villagers in the market area of the village were told about the struggle being waged by the workers, and leaflets about May Day were distributed. Some older workers of the village heartily welcomed them and said that they were very happy that May Day was being commemorated in a very fitting way in the Padgha region. Many villagers also assured the workers that they would carry out a campaign in support of the struggle in Jaj International. Shouting slogans “Dig the grave of the capitalist system – bring about the rule of workers and peasants!” May Day was indeed commemorated in a very memorable manner be the people of Padgha this year.