Workers’ Begin Fast unto Death in front of locked-out factory gates in Gorakhpur
Hundreds other workers sit in support of the Hunger Strike against lockout in two factories and dismissal of 18 workers and to demand action against the guilty of the firing on workers
Rally by various organisations in Gorakhpur in support of workers’ demands
New Delhi, 16 May. The workers in Gorakhpur began the second phase of their ‘Workers Satyagraha’ today by launching a ‘fast-unto-death’ in front of the gates of the twin factories of VN Dyers Ltd. in Bargadwa area of the city. These two factories, one a textile mill and the other a yarn mill, have been illegally locked out since 10 April 2011 and 18 workers have been dismissed.
Three workers of the locked out factories, mother of one worker and a women activist started their hunger strike this morning. They were joined by hundreds of workers of various factories in the area. The workers have formed shifts so a large number of them will be present at the dharna day and night. They have also announced that if the hunger strikers are arrested they will continue their hunger strike in jail and new teams will take their place.
The administration and police tried their best to prevent the dharna and hunger strike. They threatened to arrest and lathicharge the protesters but had to back off in face of the resolute stand by the workers. Under pressure from workers and the widespread support to their agitation, ultimately the administration arranged for talks with the factory owners. Two rounds of talks were held with workers’ representatives but the owners are adamant on the demand to take back the 18 dismissed workers. They tried to offer some sops to the workers to discard this demand but the workers are firm that not a single worker will go back until all 18 dismissed workers are reinstated.
The ‘workers satyagraha’ launched on 9 May was postponed after some of the demands were met, but the relay hunger strike was continuing since then at the town hall square. The demands include arrest of the accused of the firing on workers of Ankur Udyog Ltd on 3 May, action against the guilty officials, judicial inquiry into the firing and repression, compensation to the workers, ending the lockout in VN Dyers and reinstatement of all dismissed workers.
The administration and owners had to relent in face of the massive public pressure and resolute stuggle of the workers after the 3 May firing and brutal police repression of workers in Gorakhpur, and the workers achieved a partial victory. All the 18 workers of Ankur Udyog who were dismissed after they went to participate in the May Day rally in Delhi were taken back and the factory started from May 11. But the owners of VN Dyers Ltd. are adamant on their demands. Even the administration was making no attempt to call the owners for talks. They wanted to break the movement by tiring out the workers. But the workers are ready to fight it out.
Various democratic organisations and trade unions of Gorakhpur held a large joint demonstration at the collectorate in Gorakhpur on Monday against the anti-worker, anti-poor policies of the state government and in support of the agitating workers’ demands. Workers of several factories of the Bargadwa area and GIDA industrial area are also planning to take out rallies in support of the agitation.
Meanwhile, condemnation of the repression of workers of Gorakhpur and support for their movement continues from all over the country.