The World Federation of Trade Unions on behalf of its 105 million workers who live, work and struggle in 133 countries of the 5 continents expresses its internationalist solidarity with the Defence workers of India and their militant decision to relentlessly fight the unilateral decision of the Indian government on June 16th 2021 to slice the Ordinance Factories into 7 pieces. This decision is aligned with the permanent plans of the Modi Government to privatise several industries including the defence services and industry, putting at stake the 76,000 employees of the 41 Ordnance Factories as well as the national security.
We also strongly condemn the unacceptable, antidemocratic draconian Essential Defence Services Ordinance (EDSO) of the authoritarian Indian government which prohibits strikes in essential Defence services which includes Defence production, repair and maintenance of products connected with Defence.
The WFTU joins its voice with the Defence workers who decided to observe the 8th July 2021, as a nationwide protest day and demands the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all the privatisation plans and the repealing of the inadmissible EDSO that abolishes the legal rights of an employee to participate in a strike under the Industrial Dispute Act 1947 after following all the procedures laid down in the Act.
The Secretariat
