The All India National Strike was organised by all but one Trade Unions in India and some 180 million workers participated, making this, according to Indian Media as “the biggest strike in the world”. Out of the 180 million workers, approximately 1.5 millions are employed in the construction sector. The main demands were the increase of the minimum wage, the safeguarding of millions of workers who essentially today have no rights, the withdrawal of anti-labour legislation and the stop of privatisations in strategic branches of the economy.
All India General Strike on 2nd September 2016 report by CWFI by state in the construction sector:
TRIPURA
All the construction workers joined the strike in 24 sub-divisions in Tripura. Construction workers joined under the banner of CITU in different sub-divisions. About 100.000 construction workers (local and Migrant ) joined the strike.
The CWFI Tripura State Committee printed thousands of leaflets and posters.
PUNJAB
In Pathankot 10,000 construction workers rallied in support of All India Strike which took place in 100 construction sites. More than 100,000 workers participated in the strike. In Pathankot, Comrade Magad Ram Pasla addressed the rally while other CITU ,CWFI and AITUC leaders addressed the gathering. Comrades Natha Sing, Harindar Singh Randhawa, Sandhu and Nandalal addressed the gathering in Pathankot.
The Punjab Nirman Mazdoor Union printed thousands of leaflets and posters.
TELEGANA
In 10 districts more than 1,00,000 construction workers participated in the strike. In Warangal, Khamam, Nalgonda, Hayderabad, Mehebubnagar, Adilabad and Medak districts, construction workers supported All India Strike. The CWFI Telegana State Committee printed posters and leaflet in good numbers for the strike campaign.
MAHARSTRA
In Maharastra about 15,000 construction workers participated in the strike. In Jalgao 2500, in Warda about 2000, Kholapur about 6,000, Hemanta Nagar and Nasik around 3000 and in Pune 1500 workers also participated in the strike. The CWFI Maharastra State Committee printed 35,000 leaflets in support of the Strike.
WEST BENGAL
About 200.000 construction workers participated in the strike in 20 districts. All the big housing and other construction projects remain closed for the day. Self-employed construction workers did not turn up for work. More than 30,000 posters and leaflets were distributed by the CWFI West Bengal State committee as campaign materials for the strike. On strike day a number of district construction workers joined the demonstration along with CITU.
ASSAM
The Assam State Committee of CWFI printed 10,000 leaflets for circulation with the demands of the strike, as 7000 workers participated in the strike in 25 districts. CWFI leader Comrade Tapan Sarma was arrested by Assam Police when the Rajdhani Express at Guwahati Rail Station was blocked.
ODISSA
In Odissa more than 6000 construction workers participated in the strike. Construction workers blocked the national highway at Bhubaneswar. Due to this road block, Comrade Suresh Routhroy was arrested by Odissa Police and later on he was released.
RAJASTHAN
8000 construction workers in Rawadbhatta participated in the Strike. In the whole state about 50,000 construction workers participated in the strike. Ganganagar, Bhilwara in Udaypur district, Chittar, Bikaneer, Awalbar, Sikar, Churru, Dungarpur, Kota, Chittargarh, Hanumangarh, Tonk, Jodhpur – in all the districts, construction workers led procession on the strike day.
HIMACHAL PRADESH
6,000 of construction workers participated in the strike in 7 Hydro-Electric projects and 2 Road projects.
HARYANA
10,000 posters & 30,000 leaflets were printed by CWFI Haryana State Committee as strike campaign materials. In 60 blocks, 15,000 construction workers organized a procession in support of strike. About 45,000 construction workers participated in the strike.
KARNATAKA
50,000 handbills were printed by CWFI Karnataka State Committee as Strike campaign materials. About 25,000 construction workers in 23 districts participated in the strike.
KERALA
About 700.000-800.000 construction workers participated in the strike. Thousands of leaflets and posters were printed as strike campaign materials. In Kozikhode district alone, 10,000 big posters were printed in support of the strike.
The Chief Minister of Kerala LDF Government supported the general strike on his personal Facebook page.
JHARKHAND
About 30,000 construction workers participated in the strike.
BIHAR
6,000 construction workers in 10 districts participated in the strike. In the districts – Patna, Jahanabad, Mazafarpur, Supal, Madhepura, Saharan, Bhagalpur, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Taimur, Gaya, 12,000 leaflets were printed by the CWFI Bihar State Committee in support of the strike.
TAMILNADU
25,000 construction workers participated in the strike in 36 districts. Comrade R. Singaravelu, President of CWFI and thousands of construction workers were arrested by Tamilnadu Police in different districts.
A total of 1,500,000 construction workers participated in the strike in 15 States. We have not yet received any report from the other 7 States. We expect another 40,000 workers have participated in the strike from these 7 states.
About 200,000 leaflets and 40,000 posters were printed and circulated in the above mentioned 15 States in support of the strike.
Debanjan Chakrabarti
General Secretary