On 28th October 2009, a massive protest was organised against the Delhi Government against the violation of labour laws and rising prices. Thousands of workers participated in this protest under the leadership of several central and other trade unions,

This action was as per the decision taken by the Central Trade Unions on September 14 to oppose the anti-worker policies of the government all across the country and also in various states.

The workers assembled at the Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium and began their march towards the Delhi Secretariat. Workers were carrying the banners and flags of their organizations and shouting slogans like “long live workers unity!”, “stop violation of the labour laws!”, “put an end to rising prices!”, “down with the Delhi Government!”, “long live revolution!”. The heavy deployment of police force stopped the rally at the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg near I.T.O. Here the rally turned into a public meeting.

Proceedings of the meeting were conducted by comrade Harpajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. Leaders of all the Central and State Trade Unions addressed the meeting.

Speaking on behalf of Mazdoor Ekta Committee, comrade Birju Nayak said that – it is a historic development that all the Central Trade Unions have come together on one platform to defend the interests of the workers. He added that the authorities are violating the rights of the workers in order to intensify the exploitation of the working class, so that Indian and foreign capitalists can make maximum profits. The UPA government at the Centre considers the workers’ rights a big roadblock to the ambitions of the Indian big bourgeoisie, in becoming a global power. In this situation, we the workers have to resolutely defend our rights; because these rights were not given to us on a platter, but won through prolonged struggles and numerous sacrifices by our worker brothers. I for one think that this coming together of all the central Trade Unions is a milestone in the unity of the working class movement.

INTUC President, D. Sanjeeva Reddy addressing the gathering said that his union would take up the worker’s problems with the UPA government at the centre.

AITUC General Secretary, Gurudas Das Gupta declared that – we will organize a massive Dharna in front of the parliament during its next session jointly with all working class organizations to oppose the anti-worker moves of the UPA government. The date of this action would be announced soon, he said.

General Secretary of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Ramarao Purohit said that the toiling people of India are going through difficult times at present. There is the crisis of unemployment on the one hand and sky-rocketing prices on the other, he pointed out. Working class is under attack from all sides. He called upon all workers’ organizations to fight unitedly against these attacks.

CITU Secretary, comrade Tappan Sen blamed the central government for the rising prices and called for a united struggle against the government.

Speaking on behalf of AIUTUC, comrade Santosh Rai said that the central government is pursuing anti-worker policies.

From AIUTUC, comrade Harish Tyagi said that the present government is the government of capitalists. It is pursuing the policy of privatization, liberalization, globalization, for which, workers are being made to suffer.

On behalf of UTUC, comrade D. K. Dwevedi said that the workers in the unorganized sector are being made to work as slaves. There are no labour laws covering these workers and there is need to take up the fight for their rights as well.

At the conclusion of the public meeting, a ten member delegation led by comrade Abani Rai (Member Parliament) met the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dixshit and handed over a memorandum to her.

The main demands stated in the memorandum included the fixing of minimum wage at Rs. 11, 055 per month, ending the violation of labour laws in the private shops and establishments, recognizing the rights of workers to form unions, implementation of the Social Security Act, registration of workers in the unorganized sector, providing residential accommodation with the necessary basic amenities, equal pay for equal work for women workers and ending their harassment in the workplace, ending the contract labour, etc.