New Delhi- The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) launched its 11th All India Conference with a powerful open session at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, drawing over 5,000 delegates from across the country.

The conference saw participation from representatives of various Left parties, trade unions, and workers from both organized and unorganized sectors, including public and private industries. Rajiv Dimri, National General Secretary, AICCTU said that the event highlighted the growing challenges faced by workers in India and called for a united struggle to reclaim their rights and dignity.

The session began with Comrade Sucheta De, AICCTU National Vice President, addressing the escalating attacks on workers’ rights in India. She criticized the growing influence of corporate power, or “Company Raj,” which she said is systematically eroding the hard-won rights of workers.

Santosh Roy, AICCTU Delhi President, echoed her sentiments, emphasizing that the power to transform the nation lies in the hands of workers. He called for unity among industrial, agrarian, and urban informal workers, who collectively generate the nation’s wealth.

Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), drew parallels between the current plight of workers and the struggles during the drafting of the Indian Constitution. He highlighted the erosion of the 8-hour workday, with workers now being forced to work up to 12 hours without fair wages or dignity. Bhattacharya stressed the need to combat religious hatred, casteism, and exploitation, declaring, “We are workers of the world, and the world is ours.”

In a notable incident, George Mavrakos, Honorary President of the World Federation of Trade Unions, was denied a visa by the Indian government to attend the conference. His speech, read aloud at the event, condemned the violence against Palestinians and called for global resistance against capitalist exploitation.

Unity Against Neoliberal Policies

The conference saw addresses from leaders of various central trade unions, including INTUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, UTUC, and SEW.

Comrade Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), highlighted the diversity of the gathering and the relevance of the conference’s slogan, “This land is our land.” She warned of nationwide strikes if the government implements the controversial labour codes, which she argued would further marginalize workers.

Noted economist Atul Sood identified key challenges facing workers, including neoliberal policies, the rise of informal labor, and the invisibility of workers’ contributions. He called for a renewed focus on securing regular employment and fair wages.

Bezwada Wilson of the Safai Karmachari Andolan described the conference as historic, emphasizing the need for a united struggle against exploitation and for secularism. He criticized the corporate loot of workers’ resources and the systemic oppression faced by sanitation workers, urging that no child should be forced into the same profession as their parents.

Comrade Rajaram Singh, President of the All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) and Member of Parliament, expressed solidarity with Palestinian workers and condemned the Indian government’s decision to send workers to Israel.

He noted that the “mazdoor kisan ekta” must be strengthened, especially as the BJP had campaigned for 400 seats to change the constitution as we know it. He called for strengthening the unity of workers and farmers (“mazdoor kisan ekta”) to resist the corporate takeover of key sectors and protect the Constitution

Comrade Shashi Yadav, Secretary of the All India Scheme Workers’ Federation, highlighted the struggles of scheme workers like ASHA, Anganwadi, and Mid-day Meal workers, who are denied regular employment and benefits. She celebrated the leadership of women in these struggles and called for their continued empowerment.

Wakeel Hassan, a miner involved in the Silkyara Tunnel rescue and a victim of the Modi government’s bulldozer policies, shared his experiences of inequality and called for a united fight against oppression. Apoorva Gautam, representing the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, spoke on the Palestinian struggle, drawing attention to the removal of AICCTU’s solidarity banners by Delhi police earlier in the day.

Comrade Sarabjit Singh of the All India Railway Federation criticized the privatization and casualization of railway jobs, while Comrade Nirmala M., Working President of the All India Municipality and Sanitation Workers Federation, highlighted the triple oppression of caste, patriarchy, and class faced by sanitation workers. She called for the dismantling of these oppressive structures.

The conference concluded with delegates reaffirming their commitment to the workers’ struggle in India, vowing to fight against casteism, communalism, and the erosion of constitutional rights.