World Wide Protest against Exploiters
Marx ‘ s call 155 years ago is relevant even today . In the imperialist , capitalist world its relevance is increasing day by day . The united struggle of workers and peasants is the way ahead for realizing the rights of workers and toiling masses and establishing Proletariat power in the wake of the capitalist exploitation and anti-development reactionary forces of the ruling class .
Protests and strikes around the world are demanding minimum wages for workers , equal pay for 8 hours a day , safety in the workplace , and job security . All the demands put forward by the workers can be fulfilled . As long as the mode of capitalism continues , it is imperative for the Working Class to resort to self-defence . Comrade Lenin explains the working-class struggle and trade union politics as follows “ The working class should not be confined to factory ( economic ) struggles , but should be given political training and political consciousness ”. The establishment of proletarian power is possible only through the political struggle of the workers . Let us go through some of the protests worldwide against the exploitation of working class . US :
• Tens of thousands of grocery store workers in Los Angeles went on strike for better pay , health benefits and a fair pension and achieved some success .
• Tulip workers in Washington go on strike over pay rises and better work conditions and receive wages for days sickened by pesticides .
• Auto union members at a manufacturing plant in Sheboygan , Wisconsin , are on strike over pay , laying off 74 percent ( 1,090 ) of the 1472 employees .
• Teachers , bus drivers and teaching support staff in Minneapolis have gone on strike over salary increases and staff shortages to achieve a 4 % wage increase and 100 % health insurance .
• More than 500 workers at the Chevron Corporation refinery in the San Francisco Bay Area went on strike demanding a hike in wages over 26 security issues and inflation and the region ’ s high cost of living .
Canada :
• As many as 530 aircraft engine maintenance workers were on strike after Rolls-Royce announced its lockout of its Canada plant . The company announced the lockout while workers were negotiating with management for a five-year contract extension , better pay , an eight-hour workday , and a pension .
• A total of 3,000 Canadian train conductors , engineers , rail and yard workers has been stranded across the country due to raising commodity prices , the aftermath of the Ukraine war and a strike for wages . CP Rail , which operated the railroad , laid off 3,000 employees .
Haiti :
Workers in the textile and other manufacturing sector are working 9 hours a day , demanding a $ 5 to $ 15 pay riase per day . These demands were put forward by the workers as the inflation in the country increased significantly . Europe :
• Workers at Nordex , a Spanish wind turbine manufacturer , are on strike since the company ’ s management has announced that the plant would be closed and relocate due to market competition .
• In Norway , 27,600 shipbuilders and automakers are on strike for a minimum wage hike .
• Some 400 child care workers in Belgium participated in a strike against staff shortages and overwork .
• French transport workers in Paris have gone on strike against privatisation and a 40-minute extension of working hours a day in exchange for a monthly wage increase of 70 Euros .
• Teachers in Marseille , France , participated in a strike against cuts to school resources and the reduction of 2,000 teaching hours in school .
• Workers who were sacked from the Xiaomi-Salcomp Electronics factory in Istanbul , Turkey , were on strike demanding re-employment .
• Nearly 160 engineers working for Vanderlande Industries at London ’ s Heathrow Airport were on strike for better pay .
• Nearly 1,000 engineers , technicians and warehouse workers at UK pharmaceutical company GSK were on strike to protest a 2.75 percent wage hike .
Africa :
• Gold mining workers in South Africa ’ s Sibani-Stillwaters were on strike demanding a 700 rand to 1,000 rand hike a month .
• Hundreds of South African taxi drivers were on strike in Cape Town against strict licensing conditions .
• In Nigeria , University workers went on strike for reasons such as non-payment of salaries , non-payment of accidental allowances and non-payment of national minimum wage dues .
In India : The ruling classes are working for the benefit of the capitalists leaving the people of the country to the wind . The government and the bourgeios political parties , which have to stand by the people during the difficult times of the corona virus pandemic , have demonstrated their loyalty to the capitalists by bringing in three farm laws and four labour codes without holding any discussion in Parliament . The three farm laws were abolished because of the one-year farmers ’ battle at Delhi ’ s borders , but the central government has laid the groundwork for these laws to be enforced by state governments . The four labour codes are yet to be withdrawn . Social activists , journalists , writers , and others will be imprisoned by the Modi regime as traitors and terrorists . Even as farmers commit suicide owing to debt , the Modi government has waived off debts worth Rs . 7 lakh crore to corporates since 2014 . On the other hand , public sector enterprises are being privatized by showing or creating losses .
Workers of the World , Unite ! �
Class Struggle