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250 million Indian workers and farmers on the streets in a national strike

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Original article by Abdul Rahman republished form peoples dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

The strike was called by the trade unions and farmers groups against anti-workers labor codes and failures of the government to enact a legal support price for farm products.July 09, 2025 by Abdul Rahman

250 million Indian workers and farmers on the streets in a national strike

National strike against the “anti-worker” labor codes of the Modi government on July 9. Photo: CPI(M)

Millions took to the streets all over India on Wednesday, July 9, to observe a national strike call made by Central Trade Unions (CTU). They are striking against the anti-worker policies adopted by the ultra-right-wing government in the country. 

CTU is a platform of all the major trade union federations in the country, spanning the ideological and political spectrum. It includes the Center for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and several others. 

The strike was also supported by all the major groups of farmers, students, women, and various professional unions such as teachers, journalists, and IT employees in the country. 

According to various estimates, more than 250 million workers and farmers – both in organized and unorganized sectors – directly participated in the strike and protests across the country. 

Workers in other organized sectors such as ports, airports, and banking also participated alongside those in various public sectors.

The strike affected most of the industrial activities in the country, particularly industries related to mining.

#Strike #GeneralStrike बी टी आर वाडको एम्पलाइज यूनियन के साथी अपनी कंपनी एस एफ सी सॉल्यूशन साहिबाबाद के गेट पर हड़ताल को कामयाब बनाते हुए। pic.twitter.com/311IoxICHS

— CPIM DELHI (@CPIMSTATEDELHI) July 9, 2025

In several places, workers blocked the movement of trains, blocked highways, and picketed factory gates to mobilize greater support. In some cases, such as the Kochi refinery in the southern state of Kerala, workers defied court orders and observed the strike.

Picket lines stand strong and militant in front of the factory gate.#9thJulyGeneralStrike pic.twitter.com/V2a33uoQT9

— CITU CENTRE (@cituhq) July 9, 2025

A total shut down of all major business was observed in various states in the country such as Kerala, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, and others.

Anti-worker labor codes must be withdrawn

The workers were demanding immediate withdrawal of the new labor codes enacted by the ultra-right-wing government led by Narendra Modi at the center in 2020. CTU claims the four new labor codes are anti-worker, depriving them of their basic rights, including the right to collective bargaining, which was won through a historic and painful worker’s struggle.

The other major demands include: 

  • The end of the privatization and contractualization of jobs
  • A national minimum wage of Rs. 26,000 (USD 303)
  • Improvements in working conditions across all sectors for all kinds of workers

Trade union workers take out a march in West Bengal. #GeneralStrike #StrikeHard pic.twitter.com/hxrTd0AoYY

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) July 9, 2025

The strike also supported the demands raised by the country’s major farmers groups, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), for a legal minimum support price for all farm produce, the waiving of loans for farmers, an end to all forced land acquisition, and better employment opportunities.

The strike was originally scheduled for May 19. It had to be postponed following the war-like situation in the region created after India attacked several locations inside neighboring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting armed groups who carried out attacks on tourists in Pahalgam.

Popular action defeats government lies

A central protest rally was held in the national capital Delhi. The protest was attended by all the constituents of CTU and SKM, the farmers collective which has extended support to the strike.

Millions of workers, farmers strike in India to protect their basic rights, livelihoods
CPI(M) Politburo Member and CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen addresses a strike demonstration in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Photo: CPI (M)

Addressing the rally, Tapan Sen, general secretary of CITU and a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) polit bureau, claimed that the success of the strike demolishes the myths created by the Modi government about the so-called economic prosperity his government’s policies have created.

Millions strike in India
Strike demonstration in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Photo: CPI (M)

Most Indians today are struggling to find a decent source of livelihood and those who have one are struggling to protect it from the effects of the various wrongful and pro-corporate policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, Sen underlined.

The lies about India being the third or fourth largest economy in the world, propagated by the present government in the country and magnified by the complicit media, have been exposed by the sheer number of people who participated in today’s strike. It establishes the fact that under Modi’s decade-long rule the condition of the working classes in India has gone from bad to worse, Sen told the protesters gathered at the rally.

Millions strike in India workers and farmers
Photo: CPI(M)

Sen also warned the government against going ahead with the proposed trade deal with the US, claiming that would further compromise the interest of workers and farmers in India.

Amarjeet Kaur, general secretary of the AITUC, claimed that the BJP used pro-government unions to divide the working classes in the country and falsely called the strike “illegal”.

“The attempts to divide the working class, so that the interest of its corporate bosses are protected, was defeated by the successful strike” Kaur declared. She noted that this was the fourth such strike since 2020 and more such strikes will happen in the future, with more intensity, if the government fails to correct its ways and take back the four draconian labor codes, and enact laws which really benefit the working classes of this country.

Original article by Abdul Rahman republished form peoples dispatch under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA) license.

Continue Reading250 million Indian workers and farmers on the streets in a national strike

Utah’s anti-union bill sparks outcry as labor movement fights back

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https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/02/14/utahs-anti-union-bill-sparks-outcry-as-labor-movement-fights-back

Workers pack the State Capitol building in Salt Lake City, Utah demanding Governer Cox veto HB 267. Photo: UEA

Utah’s controversial HB 267 seeks to ban collective bargaining for federal workers, drawing fierce opposition from unions and activists.

A controversial bill in the US state of Utah, HB 267, is making its way through the state legislature, sparking intense debate and widespread opposition. 

If signed into law, the bill would make it illegal for any federal agency in Utah to recognize labor unions or engage in collective bargaining with their employees. This sweeping measure would impact thousands of workers, including teachers, health care workers, emergency responders, and a variety of other workers employed by federal agencies. Many federal employees rely on unions to fight for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions.

The bill has been met with fierce opposition from labor unions, federal workers, civil rights groups, and grassroots organizations. Many of whom see HB 267 as not just harmful to individual employees, but having far-reaching consequences for the broader labor movement and worker’s rights in Utah.

Despite the opposition, HB 267 passed the House floor on January 26 with a 42-32 vote and narrowly passed the Senate on February 6 with a 16-13 vote. It now awaits a decision from Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who must choose to either sign or veto the bill in the coming days. 

Labor movement fights back against HB 267

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Utah AFL-CIO, and the Utah Education Association (UEA) have held several rallies at the State Capitol in protest of HB 267. Thousands of workers packed the building after the Senate passed the bill, demanding a veto from the Governor. 

Workers carried signs with statements like, “Workers rights are worth the fight!” and “Bust the billionaires, not the unions!”

Michael, a pipefitter with Local 140 who is involved in the growing movement against HB 267 explained:

“I feel like it’s a power grab. I feel like they’re taking away our voice…Teachers, first responders, nurses. Those industries are under huge attacks since COVID. So therefore, you’re taking an industry that’s already been depleted and depleting it even further by taking away their voice.” 

The anti-union bill, and the fight against it, reminds labor leaders of a similar anti-union bill in Wisconsin in 2011, called Act 10. That bill sparked an unprecedented worker’s movement that almost culminated into a general strike in Madison. 

UEA leads resistance against legislative attacks

In response to the Utah bill passing the House floor, the UEA stated:

“We believe HB 267 represents a dangerous precedent that undermines the principles of democracy and the rights of public employees to organize and advocate for their professions. It is an attack on public educators who dedicate their lives to teaching Utah’s children, ultimately threatening the quality of public education across the state.”

The UEA is the largest teacher’s union in the state. In 2024, they led a broad coalition in a successful fight to shut down Constitutional Amendment A, which would have opened up the use of the income tax fund allocated to public education for other “needs” like private school vouchers. 

“The teachers were able to fight hard and [Constitutional Amendment A] got removed from the ballot. It’s clear that the legislature is retaliating against teachers and retaliating against unions,” said Dodge Hovermale, a member of United Campus Workers of Utah Local 7765, speaking with Peoples Dispatch.

…

Article continues at https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/02/14/utahs-anti-union-bill-sparks-outcry-as-labor-movement-fights-back

Continue ReadingUtah’s anti-union bill sparks outcry as labor movement fights back

Teachers and NHS workers’ unions ‘put the government on notice’ over below-inflation pay rises

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/teachers-and-nhs-workers-unions-put-the-government-on-notice-over-below-inflation-pay-rises

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) chief executive Pat Cullen (second right front row) joins members of the RCN on the picket line outside the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, as nurses take industrial action over pay, January 18, 2023

TEACHER and NHS worker unions threatened strike action today over government-backed below-inflation public-sector pay rises.

The Department of Health and Social Care, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education have recommended 2.8 per cent unfunded rises for 2025-26 to pay review bodies after Chancellor Rachel Reeves ordered all departments to cut costs by 5 per cent.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “There are real concerns across the trade union movement about the government’s recommendation.

“The government must now engage unions and the millions of public-sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.

“It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises.

“And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings.

“In the longer term, we need a spending review that gives hope to those delivering and relying on our public services.”

…

Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/teachers-and-nhs-workers-unions-put-the-government-on-notice-over-below-inflation-pay-rises

Keir Starmer confirms that he's proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Continue ReadingTeachers and NHS workers’ unions ‘put the government on notice’ over below-inflation pay rises