AIRF: Hands off our right to strike

Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra has urged Airf affiliates to observe ITF glogal day of Action for the “Right to Strike” on 18th Feb, 2015 in a befitting manner.

No.AIRF/31-D(G)

Dated: January 24, 2015

The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Unions,

Dear Comrades,

Sub: Hands off our right to strike

We have already reported all of you about the pressure mounted on the ILO by the employers globally to withdraw the “Right to Strike”, which is embodied in the ILO Convention 87 as a part of established interpretation of the convention, without which ILO Convention will become meaningless.

Almost 90 countries throughout the world have adopted this convention, and now in the wake of globalization and liberalization, the employers unitedly creating all sorts of pressure on the ILO to withdraw the right to strike.

Comrades! If it happens, we will be loosing protection given to the workers in the ILO Convention 87, and thus the achievements made by the ILO, for the last four decades for collective action against the employers, will definitely be lost , and will be detrimental against the interest of the employees and working class.

The ITUC has, therefore, given a call to observe 18th February, 2015 as “Global Day of Action for Right to Strike” against the pressure of the employers for withdrawal of right to strike. The ITF has also given similar call during its 43rd Congress, held in Sofia in August 2014.

It would be in all appropriateness, if we could observe 18th February, 2015 as “Global Day of Action for Right to Strike” in an appropriate manner by creating awareness among the working class by organizing mass meetings, conventions etc. and sending the report immediately to this office for forwarding the same to the ITUC and ITF for pledging our solidarity against the onslaught on the working class. We should also try to mobilize our support by sending memorandum to Government of India to pledge their support against withdrawal of right to strike from the ILO Convention 87.

Yours faithfully,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary

Copy to: General Secretary, ITUC – for information.
Copy to: General Secretary, ITUC(Asia Pacific) – for information.
Copy to: General Secretary, ITF – for information.
Copy to: General Secretary, HMS – for information.

Order: Right-to-Strike-AIRF