A Wave of Protests Rock Noida
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The wave of workers' protests across the country—spanning cities like Panipat, Surat, Singrauli, and Manesar—has now spread to Noida and Greater Noida. Due to rising prices of LPG and essential commodities, combined with 'starvation–level' wages, workers in various factories in Noida have been relentlessly protesting, now facing police brutality.
By Our Copy Desk
Statement released by AICCTU, trade union wing of the CPI-ML (Liberation)
AICCTU Statement | Yogi Government brutally attacking the Workers protesting for basic survival demands in Noida.
Over the past few months, a wave of workers' protests across the country—spanning cities like Panipat, Surat, Singrauli, and Manesar—has now spread to Noida and Greater Noida. Due to rising prices of LPG and essential commodities, combined with 'starvation–level' wages, workers in various factories in Noida have been continuously protesting.
Employers across the Delhi–NCR region, have been forcing workers to put in 12–hour shifts for meager monthly salaries ranging from ₹11,000 to ₹12,000. With the rapidly rising cost of living, workers are unable to sustain themselves.
After paying for rent, transportation, and sending money to their families across various states of India, migrant workers are often left struggling to afford even the most basic necessities. Because of recent LPG price hikes ranging from Rs 350 to 450 rupees per kg in black market, workers are struggling to even feed themselves properly.
These workers, who are compelled to migrate from states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand etc. are made to work for extremely low wages in and around the national capital. Most workers in the Delhi–NCR region are also denied basic rights such as permanent employment, ESI, PF, bonus, and overtime pay. There is widespread anger among workers in states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, where governments are seen blatantly siding with the factory owners.
Faced with rising prices and continuous decline in real wages, workers are left with no other option but to struggle or starve to death.
Yogi's Police is Detaining Workers and Trade Union Leaders At the Behest of Factory Owners
Despite heavy police repression, workers continue to protest in Noida and nearby areas across several companies, including Richa Global Exports, Motherson, Kent RO Systems Ltd., Dixon Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., Rainbow Fabart Pvt. Ltd., Spark Minda Sai Ltd., Itel Mobile Devices Pvt. Ltd., and Anubhav Apparels Pvt. Ltd. etc.
Instead of addressing workers’ demands through mediation and dialogue, the Haryana & Uttar Pradesh governments—have deployed a large police force which has blatantly resorted to lathi charge, tear gas, and arrests of workers and trade union leaders.
Women workers, who have played a leading role in these protests, have been brutally beaten by male police personnel in places like Manesar and Noida, and several have been detained and arrested.
Comrade Amar Singh, District Committee President of the Gautam Buddh Nagar unit of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), along with several other union leaders, has been placed under house arrest. Police in Noida have also targeted activists and even lawyers who were trying to provide legal assistance to workers.
AICCTU strongly condemns these repressive actions and demands that the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Government immediately release all arrested workers and trade union activists.
Uttar Pradesh Government Unleashing Violence Like The Infamous Butcher Of Jallianwala Bagh; Modi Government unilaterally forcing Labour Codes on the workers to snatch away all labour rights
Except for the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (affiliated with the RSS-BJP), all central trade unions have demanded the rollback of the four labour codes brought by the Modi government. Several nationwide strikes have already taken place against these laws, but the Modi government has so far refused to concede to any demands of the workers.
Since the beginning of this year, workers in places such as Barauni, Sonipat, Surat, Korba, Singrauli, Petnikot, Kota, and Buxar have been continuously protesting. Their demands include resisting the imposition of 12-hour workdays, ensuring double pay for overtime, and ending the exploitation of contract system.
In essence, much like the infamous Dyer—who ordered the brutal firing on unarmed Indians on April 13, 1919—the police under the Yogi government has resorted to extreme violence and aggression towards the protesting workers.
The on-going protests clearly indicate that workers across the country have become fully aware of the nexus between corporate profiteers and the Double -Triple Engine BJP governments. AICCTU warns the government and employers against using violent force on the workers protesting for bare minimal survival needs. These protests shall only intensify further if the demands of the workers are not met.
Rajeev Dimri
General Secretary
AICCTU