GM Workers in India on Strike: Appeal for Solidarity

[ckaihatsu]

GM Workers in India on Strike: Appeal for Solidarity


DATE: April 6, 2011

TO: Key Contacts

FROM: Charles Kernaghan, Institute for Global Labour & Human Rights/NLC

RE: GM Workers in India on Strike: Appeal for Solidarity


Urgent Action Alert

GM Workers in India on Strike
Appeal for Solidarity

1,600 workers on strike at the GM Halol plant in India, which produces Cruze and Aveo vehicles.

Workers paid just 47 to 92 cents an hour, while being shortchanged on their overtime pay.

Over 269 workers suffer from spinal cord injuries due to unsafe working conditions.

Local GM management has unilaterally imposed a mandatory 20 percent increase in daily production goals, which will only result in more work injuries.

Management wants to replace strikers with non-union replacement workers—“scabs”.

The workers have been out on strike for three weeks. They want their Gujarat Kamdar Mandal union recognized with a collective contract so workers finally have a voice.


In today’s global economy, we either respond to appeals for solidarity from our sisters and brothers across the developing world, to raise standards, wages and respect for worker rights—and lift all ships—or, we can do nothing, and sink together.

Please sign onto the letter to General Motors’ CEO. Together—along with the striking workers in India—we can win this!

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=fWaQ8%2BaJbmoCIYerdW%2Fr8s4jw%2FurggWV

Read the report, GM Workers in India on Strike: Appeal for Solidarity

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GXGhXGIvragt6AZY%2FTPBW84jw%2FurggWV

[red cat]

Isn't that union affiliated to the INTUC, the trade-union wing of the Indian National Congress? If it is, then I think the workers are going in for another betrayal. There was something similar last year, probably by the same union.

[the last donut of the night]

Isn't that union affiliated to the INTUC, the trade-union wing of the Indian National Congress? If it is, then I think the workers are going in for another betrayal. There was something similar last year, probably by the same union.

What a nice way of completely brushing off the Indian workers and their struggle, red cat. Cheers.

[red cat]

What a nice way of completely brushing off the Indian workers and their struggle, red cat. Cheers.

The struggles of the Indian workers are being liquidated by these unions. Completely supporting the unions means being a part of the betrayals.

[pranabjyoti]

What a nice way of completely brushing off the Indian workers and their struggle, red cat. Cheers.
Comrade Red Cat is right. Kindly have some idea about Indian scenario before making comments.

[the last donut of the night]

I agree with you all that the unions are the main part of the problem. However, my criticism has more to do with how you've said that message -- as much as this strike is led by a union firmly tied to capital's rule, I don't think we can just say, "well, it's a union-led strike, whatever". Workers nonetheless are involved and something progressive may come out of it. I do however agree we must be vigilant.

[pranabjyoti]

I agree with you all that the unions are the main part of the problem. However, my criticism has more to do with how you've said that message -- as much as this strike is led by a union firmly tied to capital's rule, I don't think we can just say, "well, it's a union-led strike, whatever". Workers nonetheless are involved and something progressive may come out of it. I do however agree we must be vigilant.
Can't you see that Comrade Red Cat is criticizing the union, NOT THE WORKERS and is just warning the workers that the union leaders may betray them in the long run. Nobody here is against the strike. The debate is about the character of the leadership of the trade union.

[the last donut of the night]

Can't you see that Comrade Red Cat is criticizing the union, NOT THE WORKERS and is just warning the workers that the union leaders may betray them in the long run. Nobody here is against the strike. The debate is about the character of the leadership of the trade union.

My criticism is not directed at the substance of his post, it's directed at how he presented it. I agree with red cat.

[t.shonku]

What a nice way of completely brushing off the Indian workers and their struggle, red cat. Cheers.


Indian National Congress is an outright nasty party whose only aim is to promote feudalism in India, I absolutely despise them and their party history , this party was the same party whose trade union didn't express solidarity with striking Indian workers during British Raj because their leader Gandhi was too busy licking British imperialist feet . This is the same party which indirectly helped the execution of Bhagat Singh because their leader Gandhi was busy with round table conference.


During Naval Revolt sailors, workers, common street vegetable seller, and women all united to overthrow British out of India, but instead of helping them Gandhi and his cheater Congress party did everything to break their morale.



Now tell me how can Congress backed trade union be supported whose history is that of backstabbing working class?



Do you have any freaking clue of what you are saying? , kindly go through threads on India .

[the last donut of the night]

Indian National Congress is an outright nasty party whose only aim is to promote feudalism in India, I absolutely despise them and their party history , this party was the same party whose trade union didn't express solidarity with striking Indian workers during British Raj because their leader Gandhi was too busy licking British imperialist feet . This is the same party which indirectly helped the execution of Bhagat Singh because their leader Gandhi was busy with round table conference.


During Naval Revolt sailors, workers, common street vegetable seller, and women all united to overthrow British out of India, but instead of helping them Gandhi and his cheater Congress party did everything to break their morale.



Now tell me how can Congress backed trade union be supported whose history is that of backstabbing working class?



Do you have any freaking clue of what you are saying? , kindly go through threads on India .

^read what i've said before

[Hit The North]

The debate is about the character of the leadership of the trade union.

No. Please read the OP. The thread is about providing solidarity for the striking workers, not about the leadership of the union. red cat's implication seemed to be that it would be incorrect to offer solidarity given the nature of the leadership of the trade union. In fact he goes so far as to argue that supporting this strike would be a "betrayal" of the working class!

[red cat]

No. Please read the OP. The thread is about providing solidarity for the striking workers, not about the leadership of the union. red cat's implication seemed to be that it would be incorrect to offer solidarity given the nature of the leadership of the trade union. In fact he goes so far as to argue that supporting this strike would be a "betrayal" of the working class!

Putting words in my mouth seems to be an obsession of yours. Or are you just trying to start another Trot versus Maoist sectarian battle even after all the other posters in this thread have agreed on a common and correct stand ?

[ckaihatsu]

Urgent Action Alert: GM India Workers Entering 2nd Month of Strike



DATE: April 18, 2011

TO: Key Contacts

FROM: Charles Kernaghan, Institute for Global Labour & Human Rights/NLC

RE: Urgent Action Alert: GM India Workers Entering 2nd Month of Strike


The strike at the General Motors plant in Halol, India is now the longest strike in the last two decades in the state of Gujurat.

* The Association of Trade Unions in Gujurat State, with 100 trade unions affiliated, is supporting the GM strikers.

* The Indian National Trade Union Congress (ITUC) with more than 8 million members is also supporting the GM strikers.

* Over 500 striking GM workers marched to the city of Vadodara, only to be detained by the police.

* Despite hiring 100 to 150 “scabs”—replacement workers—since the strike began over a month ago, production is down by 1,500 vehicles at the Halol plant.

* The International Metal Workers Federation is also standing in solidarity with the GM strikers in India.

* Nearly 2,000 labor, religious, academic and business leaders and activists have written to the CEO of General Motors in the U.S. demanding the workers’ legal right to organize a union at the Halol plant in India and improved health and safety conditions.


If you haven’t done so already, please sign the letter to GM’s CEO and pass it along to your friends and contacts.

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XMhlNBijREklyuCXzKFVT4rzpNpnmfaW


Press coverage of GM India strike:


GM workers throng labour office, Indian Express, 16 April 2011
GM strike completes one month, Business Standard, 16 April 2011
GMI workers organize demonstration, detained, The Times of India, 14 April 2011

Click here for the complete report, alerts and news articles









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