Clamour Grows Amidst Trade Unions Against Imposition Of EDSO 2021

The peaceful and democratic struggle of the Defence Workers seems to be gaining more momentum. The Governments EDSO 21, it seems, has started boomeranging, since the attention of the whole Country is now on the struggle of the Defence Civilian Employees against Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories. www.indianpsu.com has been, on regular basis, publishing the details of support which the Defence Civilian Employees have been receiving on daily basis. The latest in this row is a joint statement issued by Trade Union Organisations like AICCTU, IFTU, NTUI and TUCI. A joint statement issued by these organisations is given below for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu.com –

JOINT STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ESSENTIAL DEFENCE SERVICES ORDINANCE 2021

The new Essential Defence Services Ordinance 2021 is one of the most draconian pieces of legislation seen in recent times. It enables the Central Government to probibit strikes in what are defined as “essential defence services”. However the definition of “essential defense services” is wide enough to cover almost any establishment or undertaking since it includes any such establishmnt or undertaking “dealing with production of goods or
equipments required for any purpose connected with defense”. It also includes any other service as the Central Government may declare to be an essential defence service.

We condemn this ordinance and ask for its immediate withdrawal. We stand with the defense workers and all others who may be affected by this ordinance. We call upon the whole of thhe wsorking class to come onto the streets to fight against this ordinance.

The right to strike is a valuable right won by the working class after years of struggle. At its most basic it is the right to refuse labour. This is a fundamental human right as forced labour is slavery. This struggle to restore the right to strike as a valid legal right of the working class is a crucial struggle that the working class of this country will have to take up in the coming days.

Comrades, It must be our task to fight this extremely authoritarian.