Report of Mazdoor Hunkaar Rally
On 7th January a rally was organized under the the banner of Dilli Ispat Udyog Mazdoor Union called the "Mazdoor Hunkaar rally" in Wazirpur industrial area to commemorate the victory of the workers in getting their union registered. Workers from all sectors of the steel industry in Wazirpur Industrial area participated in the Mazdoor Hunkaar Rally with great enthusiasm and urged their fellow workers in to unite in the fight for their cause. After the rally a meeting was conducted at Raja park in Wazirpur industrial area, where all the workers and their families gathered in large numbers to celebrate their victory. A community kitchen was also organized by the workers. The Committee members of the Dilli Ispat Udyog Mazdoor Union Ambika (President), Baburam (General Secretary), Shivani (Legal advisor),Sunny,Firoz, Santosh, Maniram and Shivkumar addressed the gathering. Representatives from Karawal Nagar Mazdoor Union, Auto Sangharsh Samiti, Naujawan Bharat Sabha also participated in the meeting in solidarity with the workers. Members of Vihaan Cultural team presented revolutionary songs. Union identity cards were dispatched to the already registered members of the union and more than 300 new memberships were given on the same day.
Despite all the attempts by the factory owners and other dalal unions to prevent the union from getting registered "Dilli Ispaat Udyog Mazdoor Union" is now a registered union. The union was registered on 24th of December by Labour Division, Nimri colony and given registration number F10/DTRU/MWD/37/14. This registration was the result of unflinching determination and the unwavering unity of the workers of steel line. There was an evident need among the workers to have a union of their own which can fearlessly voice out their concerns and fight for their cause. In a situation where all the factory owners are united for their despicable interests, a Union for the workers by the workers was needed to counter the anti-worker atmosphere wide spread in the industrial area. The Hot rolling mill workers movement of 2014 survived and continued for a solid 33 days only with the help of the cold rolling mill workers, polish workers, rickshaw pullers and other workers employed in the steel line. After the movement it was decided in the Common Assembly on 27th of August that a union representing all the workers of steel line shall be formed. And with that "Dilli Ispaat Udyog Mazdoor Union" came into being. Today workers of hot rolling, cold rolling, polishing, rickshaw etc. are members of the union and the membership is still increasing. The registration of the union will strengthen the fight for justice for the workers, it will aid the workers in their legal battle . The workers will be saved from falling into the traps of treacherous dalal unions whose only motto is to extract profit from the workers. The workers will be assisted by the Legal advisors of the Dilli Ispat Udyog Mazdoor union which will help them in filling cases in the labour court. "Dilli Ispaat Udyog Mazdoor Union" came into existence out of the struggles of the workers. The strike of 2014 that resulted in 'chakka jaam' of the whole Wazirpur industrial area, that still haunts the factor owners. The strike where the workers organised community kitchens, held meetings and exhibited exemplary courage and discipline in the face of dire circumstances but didnt for once thought of giving up their fight. The strike of hot rolling steel workers of 2014 saw the spontaneous solidarity of the workers with their fellow worker. The strike of 2014 would not have been such a success if not for the support of workers of cold rolling, polish, rickshaw, etc. Thus the strike which started off as the strike of Hot rolling mill workers strike transformed into the strike of the whole Wazirpur industrial area. Even after signing the compromise agreement the factory owners did not start the factories. It was only due to the relentless pressure by the workers organized by the union that those factory owners who were not ready to raise the pay by even 1 paisa ended up giving a raise of Rs 1500. When the workers demanded the implementation of their constitutionally guaranteed 8 hour work day they were shown the door by the factory owners but the union filed cases against the factory owners who sacked the workers. The union raised their voice for all the workers of the steel line and as a result, workers from all sectors are now member of the union. The Dilli Ispat Udyog Mazdoor union also exposed the malpractice of charging 20 percent commission from the workers by other dalal unions for filing their cases in the labour court. These Dalal unions tried their best to prevent the union from getting registered but they failed miserably. The Dilli Ispat Mazdoor Union has and will continue to fight for the workers causes.
(Release)
