On Wednesday July 9th, there was a general strike of workers across India. The union confederations say that 250 million workers were on strike throughout the country. It is reported to have included workers in the banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highway and construction industries.
The strike was organized to fight the reforms of the labor code proposed by far-right Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These reforms would give more power to bosses to fire workers, allow extended working hours, make it harder for workers to form unions or strike and other anti-worker policies.
While the strike was triggered by these specific reforms pushed for by the Modi regime and his BJP, it was also the consequence of pent-up anger among the working and middle classes. Despite massive economic growth over recent years, India is one of the most unequal societies in the world, even more unequal today than compared to when it was ruled by the British. India is today home to 284 billionaires, yet children beg for money in the street and real wages have not kept up with the cost of living.
Decades of neoliberal policies have destroyed many public sector jobs that once provided some level of stability for millions, but which have now been contracted out and increased the financial precariousness for those affected. The cutthroat competition from capitalist globalization has created a massive crisis for Indian agriculture, like much of the rest of the world, which has led to many farmers in ruins and an epidemic of farmer suicides. Migrant workers who have been pushed out of rural areas in large numbers have been particularly subject to abuses from bosses who are more than happy to take advantage of their vulnerability. Employers use the large influx of migrant workers into the cities as an excuse to depress wages.
While the strike was only one day and in no way challenges the hold of those billionaires and Modi over the Indian economy, the very fact that it took place is a positive sign. Let the example of the Indian workers be a source of inspiration for all of us. Just as we stand against Trump’s attacks on the social services that we need here in the U.S., so we support the struggle of the Indian workers against Modi’s attacks on them. Their fight is our fight!
