Joint Statement from a Platform of India’s Labour Movement (May 15, 2025)

Press release

The following joint statement was issued to the press after meeting of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations on 15th May 2025

The Platform of Central Trade Unions defers Nation-wide General Strike to 9th July, 2025

The meeting of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations was held on 15th May 2025 in New Delhi to review the preparatory activities for the countrywide General Strike on 20th May 2025. It also took note of the unfolding political developments in the country after the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam killing 26 innocent people, and the response of the Indian Armed Forces in their combat strike actions.

The Joint Platform in its press statement on 9th May strongly condemned the terrorist attack on innocent people in Pahalgam. It had also urged the government to ensure measures against those who are resorting to divisive hate campaign inside the country at such critical times. We had also applauded the immediate collective response by the working people throughout the country including in Jammu & Kashmir condemning terrorism and hate campaign asserting their unity and solidarity in the all-out fight against terrorism.

After due consideration of the prevailing situation throughout the country, the Joint Platform as an integral part of the responsible patriotic citizenry of the country decided to re-schedule the Nationwide General Strike from 20th May to 9th July, 2025 against implementation of Labour Codes and other legitimate demands of the workers, farmers and people in general. It was resolved that on 20th May, massive demonstrations/mobilisations should be held at State Capital/District/Industry level/Workplace.

However, most appallingly, even in the midst of such critical situation prevailing in the country owing to terrorist massacre and consequent developments, the employers’ class actively supported by the Govts at the centre and in many states is carrying on its onslaughts on the workers and employees across the establishments. Working hours are being unilaterally increased; statutory minimum wages and social security benefits are being flouted. Workers, particularly contract workers are being retrenched with impunity. These are nothing but heinous attempts to implement notorious Labour Codes through backdoor. At the same time despite repeated persuasion by trade unions, the Govt did not bother to meet and consult the Central Trade Unions or to hold Indian labour conference, despite receiving notices for strike from all corners of the country across the sectors.

In this background the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations calls upon the working people and their unions throughout the country to keep vigorous continuity of their preparations for the General Strike and make the rescheduled call for countrywide General Strike on 9th July 2025 a massive success.

At the same time, the Joint Platform also demands upon the Govt of India to reciprocate the positive approach of the trade union movement and desist from any unilateral precipitative move in the matter of Labour Codes and other legitimate demands relating to working conditions and workers’ rights, both individual and collective and create any kind of provocations in this trying hour before the entire country.

INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC

TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC

And independent sectoral Federations/Associations