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Monday, June 13, 2022
Saturday, June 11, 2022
Friday, June 10, 2022
MONTH OF JUNE - CONFERENCES FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN, GIRLS AND CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY
Special thanks to Marcos Wolman, LTI Special Correspondent for Argentina for this story
NATIONAL COORDINATING BOARD OF RETIRED AND PENSIONED ORGANIZATIONS OF
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC Legal Status 8152 Bmé Miter 1419 –1P.A (1037) CABA Tel .: 4374-
2322 Email: jubiladomesacor@yahoo.com.ar Blog.www.mesacoordinadora.blogspot .com
Facebook: National Coordinating Board of Organizations of Retired Retirees from the RA
Press release 1574 "Wednesday of the Retirees" June 7, 2022
MONTH OF JUNE - CONFERENCES FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN, GIRLS AND CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY:
06/03/2022: DAY AGAINST VIOLENCE, MURDERS AND ABUSE OF WOMEN "NI UNA LESS" was shouted in the massive mobilizations throughout the country, from Jujuy to Tierra del Fuego, with
different tones and the same demands, as happens since 2015. For a judicial reform and the
responsibility of the Government in the adequate accompaniment of those who are victimized by
sexist violence, for the protection of children and adolescents who are orphaned by femicides, for the
salary for territorial caregivers and against poverty and inequality with women, which increasingly
overwhelms households, are some of the demands of this "Ni Una Menos" that resumes the
occupation of the streets.
06/12/2022: “International Day against child labour”. Child labor prevents the full access of children
and adolescents to fundamental rights for their development. The advances of recent years in the
fight against child labor in Latin America and the Caribbean are at risk. The impact of COVID-19
exacerbated the situation of children and adolescents, who have seen their education paralyzed by
the quarantines and who were forced to enter the world of work pushed by the economic crisis and
the lack of income of their elders.
06/15/2022: IMPORTANT DAY ESTABLISHED AS "WORLD DAY OF AWARENESS OF ABUSE AND MISTREATMENT OF THE ELDERLY"
The General Assembly of the United Nations, in its resolution 66/127, establishes June 15 as the
World Day of Awareness of the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older Persons. The increase in life
expectancy, such an important achievement of humanity, requires measures that ensure the
necessary and sufficient conditions to have an income that covers subsistence, access to health,
housing, education, culture and recreation at this stage of life. “Elder abuse and mistreatment” can
be defined as the various forms of mistreatment that cause harm or suffering to an elderly person or
the lack of appropriate measures to prevent it. We are aware that having salaries, pensions and
retirement benefits that are not in line with basic needs, unity in the struggles of the active and retired
working class is essential to reverse the conditions of poverty and indigence. A reality that requires
political decisions, with full employment, with decent and blank wages, putting an end to
unregistered, precarious, illegal work, with the reestablishment of state and employer contributions
to the pension system, among other measures. It is also necessary that the large dominant economic
groups pay for the crisis, which continue to increase their profits, at the cost of exploitation, poverty
and marginalization, with alarming rates for our people.
WE CALL FOR THE DAY OF JUNE 15, AT 3 PM, ON THE 1575 WEDNESDAYS OF THE RETIRED IN FRONT OF CONGRESS, IN RIVADAVIA BETWEEN CALLAO AND RIOBAMBA AND IN VARIOUS PLACES IN THE COUNTRY, TO EXPAND THE UNITY AND THE STRUGGLE FOR AN EMERGENCY INCREASE IN RETIREMENTS AND PENSIONS SO THAT THE MINIMUM ASSETS COVER THE BASIC BASKET OF AN ELDERLY PERSON, TODAY AT $97,238.-(EQUIVALENT TO THREE CURRENT MINIMUM ASSETS!!) AND RECOMPOSITION AT ALL SCALES.
FOR THE FIVE POINTS OF STRUGGLE OF A GROUP OF TRADE UNIONS, RETIRED, SOCIAL ANDTERRITORIAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTAINED IN THE THREE PROJECTS OF LAWS: NEW SOCIAL PROTECTION LAW; LAW OF NORMALIZATION OF THE INSSJYP-PAMI-END OF THE INTERVENTION AND LAW OF COMMODATED HOUSING FOR RETIRED AND PENSIONED IN A HOUSING EMERGENCYSITUATION THAT, WITH MOBILIZATION AND STRUGGLE, WE WILL RE-PRESENT IN THE CHAMBEROF DEPUTIES OF THE NATION, TO PROMOTE A GREAT POPULAR AND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE, FOR A TRUE PUBLIC, PAYGO, ASSISTED, INTERGENERATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM AND A HEALTH
AND HOUSING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF RETIRES AND PENSIONERS TO LIVE WITH AUTONOMY AND DIGNITY.
ESPAÑOL
Un agradecimiento especial a Marcos Wolman, corresponsal especial de LTI para Argentina por esta historia
JUNTA COORDINADORA NACIONAL DE ORGANIZACIONES DE JUBILADOS Y PENSIONADOS DE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA Personería Jurídica 8152 Bmé Miter 1419 -1P.A (1037) CABA Tel .: 4374- 2322 Email: jubiladomesacor@yahoo.com.ar Blog.www.mesacoordinadora.blogspot .com
Facebook: Junta Coordinadora Nacional de Organizaciones de Jubilados de la RA
Comunicado de prensa 1574 "Miércoles de los Jubilados" 7 de junio de 2022
MES DE JUNIO - JORNADAS POR LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS DE LAS MUJERES, NIÑAS Y NIÑOS Y DE LAS PERSONAS MAYORES: 06/03/2022:
JORNADA CONTRA LA VIOLENCIA, LOS ASESINATOS Y EL ABUSO A LAS MUJERES "NI UNA MENOS" se gritó en las masivas movilizaciones en todo el país, desde Jujuy hasta Tierra del Fuego, con distintos tonos y los mismos reclamos, como sucede desde 2015. Por una reforma judicial y la responsabilidad del Gobierno en el adecuado acompañamiento de quienes son víctimas de la violencia sexista, por la protección de los niños y adolescentes que quedan huérfanos por los femicidios, por el salario para los cuidadores territoriales y contra la pobreza y la desigualdad con las mujeres, que agobia cada vez más a los hogares, son algunos de los reclamos de este "Ni Una Menos" que retoma la ocupación de las calles.
06/12/2022: "Día Internacional contra el trabajo infantil". El trabajo infantil impide el pleno acceso de los niños y adolescentes a derechos fundamentales para su desarrollo. Los avances de los últimos años en la lucha contra el trabajo infantil en América Latina y el Caribe están en riesgo. El impacto de COVID-19 agravó la situación de los niños, niñas y adolescentes, que han visto paralizada su educación por las cuarentenas y que se vieron obligados a entrar en el mundo del trabajo empujados por la crisis económica y la falta de ingresos de sus mayores.
15/06/2022: SE ESTABLECE COMO "DÍA MUNDIAL DE LA CONCIENCIACIÓN SOBRE EL ABUSO Y EL MALTRATO A LAS PERSONAS MAYORES"
La Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, en su resolución 66/127, establece el 15 de junio como el Día Mundial de la Toma de Conciencia del Abuso y el Maltrato a las Personas Mayores. El aumento de la esperanza de vida esperanza de vida, un logro tan importante de la humanidad, requiere medidas que aseguren las condiciones necesarias y suficientes para disponer de unos ingresos que cubran la subsistencia, el acceso a la salud vivienda, educación, cultura y recreación en esta etapa de la vida. "El abuso y el maltrato a las personas mayores" puede definirse como las diversas formas de maltrato que causan daño o sufrimiento a una persona mayor o la falta de medidas adecuadas para evitarlo. Somos conscientes de que tener sueldos, pensiones y jubilaciones que no se ajustan a las necesidades básicas, la unidad en las luchas de la clase trabajadora activa y jubilada clase trabajadora es imprescindible para revertir las condiciones de pobreza e indigencia. Una realidad que requiere decisiones políticas, con pleno empleo, con salarios dignos y en blanco, poniendo fin a el trabajo no registrado, precario e ilegal, con el restablecimiento de los aportes estatales y patronales al sistema de pensiones, entre otras medidas. También es necesario que los grandes grupos económicos dominantes económicos dominantes paguen por la crisis, que siguen aumentando sus beneficios, a costa de la explotación, la pobreza y marginación, con índices alarmantes para nuestro pueblo.
CONVOCAMOS A LA JORNADA DEL 15 DE JUNIO, A LAS 15 HORAS, EN LOS 1575 MIÉRCOLES DE LOS JUBILADOS FRENTE AL CONGRESO, EN RIVADAVIA ENTRE CALLAO Y RIOBAMBA Y EN VARIOS LUGARES DEL PAÍS, PARA AMPLIAR LA UNIDAD Y LA LUCHA POR UN AUMENTO DE EMERGENCIA DE LAS JUBILACIONES Y PENSIONES PARA QUE LOS HABERES MÍNIMOS CUBRAN LA CANASTA BÁSICA DE UN ADULTO MAYOR, HOY EN $97.238.- (¡¡EQUIVALENTE A TRES HABERES MÍNIMOS ACTUALES!!) Y LA RECOMPOSICIÓN EN TODAS LAS ESCALAS.
POR LOS CINCO PUNTOS DE LUCHA DE UN GRUPO DE SINDICATOS, JUBILADOS, ORGANIZACIONES SOCIALES Y TERRITORIALES CONTENIDOS EN LOS TRES PROYECTOS DE LEY: NUEVA LEY DE PROTECCIÓN SOCIAL; LEY DE NORMALIZACIÓN DEL INSSJYP-PAMI-FIN DE LA INTERVENCIÓN Y LEY DE VIVIENDA COMODATO PARA JUBILADOS Y PENSIONADOS EN SITUACIÓN DE EMERGENCIA HABITACIONAL QUE, CON MOVILIZACIÓN Y LUCHA, VOLVEREMOS A PRESENTAR EN LA CÁMARA DE DIPUTADOS DE LA NACIÓN, PARA PROMOVER UN GRAN DEBATE POPULAR Y PARLAMENTARIO, POR UN VERDADERO SISTEMA DE PENSIONES PÚBLICO, DE REPARTO, ASISTIDO, INTERGENERACIONAL Y UN SISTEMA DE SALUD
Y DE VIVIENDA QUE PERMITA A LAS ACTUALES Y FUTURAS GENERACIONES DE JUBILADOS Y PENSIONISTAS VIVIR CON AUTONOMÍA Y DIGNIDAD.
Traducción realizada con la versión gratuita del traductor www.DeepL.com/Translator
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Our new logo!
The history of the publication, Labor Today is a long and glorious one going back to the class-struggle era of the 1970's--fifty years ago, when the police action against Vietnam was raging. The world has changed a lot since. We carry on that proud working class tradition of oppossing militarism (NATO) and neoliberalism (the Monroe Doctrine). Our allies in the Pensioners and Retired Trade Union International of the WFTU will be participating in the Peoples' Summmit against the Organization of American States (OAS) in Los Angeles, California this week. We carry on the worldwide struggle against some of the biggest enterprises the world has ever seen: Amazon, Starbucks, Nabisco, Exxon-Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Raytheon, and General Dynamics.We invite you to join us. Write to: labortodaynews@gmail.com
Saturday, April 30, 2022
WFTU STATEMENT: May Day 2022: “United, we continue! For the satisfaction of our contemporary needs, against imperialist-capitalist barbarity!”
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LT EDITORIAL COMMENT
All around the world we commemorate, we do not celebrate May Day. We have much work to do to realize the reasons why May Day was created.
Long live the 18th World Trade Union Congress!
The World Trade Union Federation, on the occasion of May Day 2022,
salutes workers on all continents – all those whose work continues to drive the
gears of life even in difficult conditions and who continue to produce all
essential goods.
The migrant workers in Chicago, who fought and sacrificed their
lives in May 1886 for the establishment of the 8-hour day, paved the way for
the international working class to continue to demand its rights.
The international class-oriented labor movement, through the ranks
of the WFTU, honors the legacy of their struggle and continues under all
circumstances, despite the difficulties, to fight for the fulfillment of the
contemporary needs of workers and the abolition of exploitation, for the
emancipation of the working class and its liberation from the capitalist
barbarity. CONTINUE READING...
Friday, April 29, 2022
Honoring those killed and injured on Worker's Memorial Day throughout the world
Editorial
The Thatcher - Reagan rabid imposition of neoliberalism has hollowed out all OSHA enforcement and standard setting in the USA, killing and injuring thousands. Democrats, Republicans and all corporate sponsored political parties are equally guilty, representing neoliberal policies that destroy workers lives and health.
- -Editorial staff
HEADING FOR THE XVIII WORLD CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS
former general secretary of the CGTP
and vice-president of the WFTU
The class-based trade union movement of the five continents is preparing to participate in the XVIII Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) to be held in the city of Rome-Italy from May 6 to 8, 2022, the participating delegations will represent 105 million members. The congress takes place in a very difficult international context for workers and the vast majority of the peoples of the world, as a result of the pandemic of coronavirus-19 and the deepening of the crisis of the capitalist system, which will be further aggravated by the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war, promoted by U.S. imperialism and its accomplices in the governments of the European Union.Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Monday, April 25, 2022
The WFTU International Campaign in Solidarity and Relief of the Palestinian People ended with success.
On April 10th, 2022 a solidarity event with massive participation was organized by NAKLIYAT-IS in Istanbul Turkey to mark the successful end of the WFTU – GUPW Palestine campaign.
The materials were collected by 45 countries of the world. The huge participation in the campaign proves once more the solidarity of WFTU and its members with the Palestinian people.
In the event participated the WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos, Ali Riza Küçükosmanoğlu, member of WFTU Presidential Council and General Secretary of TUI Transport and the ambassador of Palestine in Turkey. Our next step is the arrival and distribution of the material to Palestine. CONTINUE READING...
Sunday, April 24, 2022
HAPPY MAY DAY 2022
Happy May Day 2022 from the Pensioners and Retired Trade Union International of the WFTU!
A message from President Chris Smalls, President of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)
LT presents for our readers this letter from ALU President Chris Smalls to members organizing in Amazon warehouse JFK8. We believe that it is very important to hear from union leaders in their own words. This union is using a militant, class struggle approach based on the teachings of the great union leader, William Z. Foster. Thanks for supporting this important struggle.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
The WFTU on the occasion of Palestinians Land Day on March 30th
The World Federation of Trade Unions, which is the militant voice of 105 million workers in 133 countries of the world, honors the Palestinians Land Day and the resistance of the People of Palestine who struggled on March 30th, 1976, against the Israeli expropriation of their land.
For one more anniversary of the Land Day, the Israeli occupation continues the stealing of Palestinian land with illegal settlements while Palestinian families are being displaced. Moreover, the murderous attacks and violations by Israel against Palestinians continue and thousands of Palestinian political prisoners, among whom children, women and ill remain imprisoned in Israeli jails.
The World Federation of Trade Unions will always denounce the imperialist aggression and the criminal policies of Israel and its allies against the Palestinian people. Through international campaigns of Solidarity and Relief, through Conferences and militant actions and interventions, we reiterate our internationalist solidarity with the People of Palestine for the creation of their independent Palestinian state on 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its Capital and for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland. We demand the end of Israeli settlements and the release of all Palestinian political prisoners.
The Secretariat
Press Release by All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) 28th March 2022
More than 20 crore workers, employees and the rural labour came out in massive protest action all over the country on the first day of the 2-day strike today. The strike call has been given by Joint Platform of Ten Central Trade Unions (INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC) and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations.
This is the gist of reports received in the AITUC Headquarters in Delhi till 1PM on 28th March, 2022.
The workers and employees in banks, insurance companies did not enter their work places anywhere in India. The coal, steel, post, oil, copper, telecom sector workers struck from the morning of 28th March. Electricity Workers went on strike in all the states, including in Maharashtra, where the Government had invoked ESMA. The Kerala state unions began strike action from midnight of 27-28 March itself. The employees of Railways and Defence sector are reported to have organized militant demonstrations at more than one thousand places across the country. The Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day Meal and Domestic Workers, Construction, Beedi and Agricultural Workers, Hawkers-vendors are participating in protest actions in several hundreds of spots in Chakka jam, road roko, rail roko programmes in various parts of the country. The Road Transport workers in Haryana began their strike by picketing at Depots from early morning of 28th March, also in defiance of ESMA.
There is bandh like situation in the states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Assam, Haryana, Jharkhand. The strike is substantial in the industrial areas in the states of Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. The Security Workers even in Sikkim have gone on strike. The Industrial areas of Delhi, HP, Gujarat, J&K, are reported on strike. 50000 Government employees picketed Central Government offices in 300 places in Tamilnadu. Income Tax department employees too have joined the strike. Even Fishermen did not venture into sea in the morning.
The Farmers have mobilized in rural areas as per the decision of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, in favour of the Strike action, pressing for their six demands, along with the support to Workers demands.
AITUC Secretariat
Mob: 9810144958
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Sindicatos denuncian fraudulento anclaje del salario al petro ~ Unions denounce fraudulent wage anchoring to the petroleum equivalent
Caracas, 02-15-2022 (TP Newsroom) - The National Front for the Struggle of the Working Class (FNLCT), which brings together a group of class-conscious unions and organizations of the grassroots union movement, denounced the fraud of the national executive by not anchoring the minimum wage to the value of the Petro, but fixing it at approximately $30.
This was made known through its official account in the social network Twitter, after the declarations of the pro-government deputy Franklin Rondón, who, in view of the information vacuum that has accompanied this announcement, stated in the state channel that the salary will not vary with the fluctuation of the value of the Petro, but will be fixed at approximately 30$.
Days before, economists and leaders of the governing party Psuv, assured that the salary had been indexed to the Petro.
Voceros de cúpula sindical patronal defienden lo indefendible, hacen el ridículo en TV. Se evidencia fraude del "anclaje" del salario a 1/2 petro, igual que el 2018. FNLCT y CUTV reafirman denuncia de la burla cometida contra la clase trabajadora. La lucha unitaria es la salida
Thursday, March 10, 2022
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY
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Saturday, February 12, 2022
One of the most massive anti-fascist demonstrations took place in Thessaloniki
On Saturday, February 5, in Evosmos, Thessaloniki, took place one of the most massive demonstrations against fascism. Thousands of workers, youths, students, unions and organizations held a huge demonstration against the activity and murderous attacks of fascist groups, who attack and terrorize militants, communists, students, migrants and refugees and whomever they disapprove of based on their criteria of race, nationality, religion, clothing, sexual orientation etc. The thousands flooded the square of the demonstration and later flooded the streets with songs, with chants, with demands, making it clear that the workers, the people, the youth will not be intimidated by the fascist criminals. On behalf of the class unions, the Secretary of Construction Workers’ Union of Thessaloniki addressed the demonstration noting "Fascists have no place in Evosmos, nor in the working-class neighborhoods and schools, nowhere. Massively and organized, we will not let them find a place to stand. We isolate them in every school, university, every workplace and neighborhood, everywhere. The organized workers’ people's movement will once again give the answer that deserves to the coyotes of the system ".
Video https://youtu.be/5Dd_urfkK8g
Photos https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzBGuo
9.2.22
Add Your Name: Pass H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act, in the Senate
Add Your Name: Pass H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act, in the Senate (aflcio.org)
Following years of debate to build consensus, it is time to pass this vital and carefully constructed legislation, a bipartisan compromise bill that will bring financial stability to the Postal Service.
The legislation includes key provisions of importance to the men and women who are the backbone of the Postal Service. First, H.R. 3076 eliminates the mandate that the Postal Service pre-fund its retiree health care benefits decades in advance, a requirement asked of no other public or private agency. Second, this legislation adopts private-sector best practice by maximizing the integration of postal annuitants into Medicare—a program to which the Postal Service and its workers have contributed more than $34 billion.
Additionally, the legislation benefits the public by codifying the mandate to provide six-day mail delivery, which has been required by an Appropriation rider since the 1980s. Some 159 million business and residential customers rely on six-day delivery.
The Postal Service is a vital public institution, self-sustaining and non-taxpayer-funded. Enactment of this legislation will restore and strengthen its financial stability, allowing it to improve service and respond to the evolving needs of American businesses and the families it serves.
Monday, January 24, 2022
Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, Independent Sectoral Federations/ Associations back the proposal of Samyukta Kisan Morcha in observing 31 January 2022 as “A Day of Betrayal”
24th January 2022
Press Release
The following statement was issued to the press by the joint platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/ Associations today – 24th January 2022
Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, Independent Sectoral Federations/ Associations back the proposal of Samyukta Kisan Morcha in observing 31 January 2022 as “A Day of Betrayal”
We have been keenly following the developments since the announcement of repeal of farm laws by the Prime Minister on 19th November 2021. While the common reaction was that of elation at the announcement, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) had taken a cautious stand that though the dharna at Delhi borders was being lifted, many more, equally important demands remain to be fulfilled and future course of action will be decided on the steps the Government takes in the matter.
Unfortunately, the Government seems to be dithering on the promises made to the SKM in writing, such as formation of a committee to look into the question of legal guarantee for MSP for agricultural produce, withdrawal of Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, sacking of Shri Ajay Mishra Teni, the alleged perpetrator of Lakhimpur Kheri atrocity etc. Shri NarendraTomar, the Agricultural Minister, to salvage the image of the PM as having buckled before the rock-like resolve of the Farmers, shamelessly said “we can always enact the laws again”.
Therefore, the decision to observing 31 January as “A Day of Betrayal” is correct and this Government needs to be told that their act of betrayal will not go unnoticed.
We also thank the SKM for their decision to back the nation-wide strike call given by us for 23-24 February, 2022 against the anti-labour, anti-people and anti-national policies comprising of wholesale privatisation of national assets and pushing the labour codes.
We call upon our unions all over India to extend their solidarity support in all possible manner for observing 31st January as black day.
INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC
TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC
And Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations
Monday, January 17, 2022
A victory against fascism – India
on
One of the largest and longest mass mobilisations the world has ever seen has forced the right-wing government of the Indian People’s Party (BJP) to repeal the three agriculture laws, and forced the prime minister, Narendra Modi, to apologise to the nation.
It is evident that the apology is only a political expedient, as elections are coming up in a few states. In fact Modi has not apologised for a lot of things: for calling the farmers anti-nationals, terrorists and traitors and for the death of more than seven hundred farmers during the protest, including four farmers and a journalist massacred when a minister’s son’s car ran over a group of peaceful protesters.
So what does this victory mean for the working class in India and people all over the world involved in class struggle?
Noam Chomsky wrote that “the Indian farmers’ struggle is a beacon of light for the world in dark times.” This victory has shown that fascism, though monstrous, can be brought to its knees by organised, united and disciplined struggle.
It can be an encouragement to people around the world who fight against “austerity” (Europe), indigenous people who fight for their habitat against big companies that displace them to loot their resources (Latin America), people who fight against the super-exploitation of labour (Asia), and those who fight for environmental conservation against the capitalist exploitation of nature. The victory of the protest has emphasised the necessity of organisations and united struggles.
The farmers are not ending the struggle—for two reasons. Firstly, they have no faith in the prime minister until the laws are actually repealed in the parliament and, secondly, because the repeal of the laws is only one of their demands. Their other demands are ensuring minimum support price (MSP) for their produce; scrapping the Electricity Amendment Act, which cuts the subsidy to farmers for electricity they use for agriculture, which will drastically increase their input costs; withdrawing the reform of forty-four labour laws to four labour codes, which will take away the hard-won rights of industrial workers; and stopping the privatisation of government assets.
Modi came to power promising development, 20 million employment every year, and corruption-free government. What he produced was a fall in GDP after demonetisation, 45-year record unemployment, and corruption.
The farmers’ protests brought about the consolidation of a worker-peasant alliance against neoliberal policies, which had increased wealth for a few and caused misery for the many.
Lenin wrote that “fascism is capitalism in decay.” Capitalism, which has an innate tendency to get into crisis, needs to subject the working class to more exploitation in order to come out of crisis. Capitalism needs brute force to suppress the resistance of workers when they are subjected to more and more exploitation.
That force is provided by the fascists, such as Modi and Bolsonaro, who have no respect for democratic values or human rights.
When the working class in their united struggle fail to fight the reactionary measures of the bourgeoisie in the preliminary stage it will lead to victory for fascism.
But fascism, though brutal, is unstable, because of eroding support from the masses, thanks to its anti-people policies; and in regaining the people’s support it indulges in igniting nationalist feelings. It attracts working people by rhetoric and demagoguery but eventually exposes its class basis. As Mussolini himself testified, “fascism is the complete merger of the state and the corporate.” That is where strong organisation, unified struggle and the leading role of the vanguard party is of great importance.
In India the left parties are in the forefront in creating a worker-peasant alliance. That is the reason why severe attacks are unleashed by the lumpen elements of BJP against communists all over India and draconian laws are used to arrest civil rights activists.
The Indian farmers’ protest has shown that unjust laws passed in the parliament can be undone on the streets. Let the spirit of resistance spread across the world for democracy and against authoritarianism!
A two-day worker-peasant strike is planned by the central trade unions and left parties for February 2022.
The victory is a battle that is won, but the war demands a protracted fight, and the peasants are showing the way. Long live worker-peasant unity!
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