CITU plans countrywide 'class struggle' in 2016

CITU president A K Padmanabhan today called upon workers across the country to unite and prepare for a "class struggle" in the new year in the face of international financial crisis, unemployment and for improving purchasing power of the workers.
To struggle for workers' unity, Padmanabhan said trade union leaders should keep themselves abreast on happenings at the international level for "dominance and hegemony by imperialistic forces" so that they could educate the people to understand the policies.
Addressing the inaugural session of the four-day General Council meeting of CITU here, he said "The socio-politico-economic and cultural issues are concerned with our lives."

He said there was a need for improvement in the purchasing power of workers as their wages were going down despite their value addition work.
The CITU president alleged the Make in India initiative had "belied" expectations because of international financial crisis.
He said the struggle was against austerity and changes in the policy and "it is our responsibility" to muster support for the workers' cause and apprise them of the Capitalists' exploitations at the international level.

"I am not saying there will be a complete change, but austerity and despair of workers can be launched as a campaign," he said.

Stressing on the importance of unity to realise demands, Padmanabhan alleged increased polarisation of the country by "communal forces" was dividing the working people.
He called for a struggle against communalism and ostracising of the working force through concerted efforts.
"...We are still struggling for minimum wages. Our struggle for total trade union unity should also unite peasants and the exploited class," he said.
Stating that there would be a massive united class struggle in the new year, Padmanabhan said unemployment was a basic issue where laid off and future workers could be brought together for campaign on policy decisions.