Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 3: To mark the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation Day of World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) on 3rd October, 2025, CITU has organised various programmes throughout the country. In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a Seminar on “Unite & Fight Against Anti-Working Class Policies” was organised at Port Blair today (3.10.2025).
Addressing the participants in the Seminar, B. Chandrachoodan, General Secretary, CITU A & N State Committee criticized the BJP-led central government for pursuing anti-working class policies during the last 11 years in order to help the corporate in the country. He said that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has adopted a negative posture towards every issue concerning the workers in the islands. He said that all the trade unions functioning in the islands should come together to launch a sustained struggle on various issues of the workers.
Speaking on the occasion, D. Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU State Committee briefly explained the origin of the WFTU in 1945 and the struggle conducted by the workers in various countries after the 2nd World War. He said that with the advent of the neo-liberal policies in the country from 1991, “labour law reforms” were a major component of these policies. He further said that increased exploitation of the working class under the neo-liberal regime has become a hallmark of the successive central government in the country since 1991. He went to say that by consolidating and repealing 29 out of the 44 labour laws in the country, four Labour Codes were passed in the Parliament by the BJP government during 2019 and 2020 which will curtail the rights and benefits enjoyed by the working class till now. He said since 1991, central trade unions and various organisations of employees conducted 23 general strike in the country against these policies, the latest one being the general strike on 9th July, 2025 in which 25 crores workers participated. He said that attempts are being made in the islands to persuade the workers not to participate in the agitations against the government.
Addressing the Seminar, P. Sathyapal, Secretary, CITU State Committee stressed the need to have more forceful and sustained struggles to achieve various demands of the employees and workers in the islands. SP Kalairajan, Secretary, CITU State Committee called upon the workers to remain united under the CITU.
R. Surendran Pillai, President, CITU State Committee presided over the programme. Anand Rajan, Secretary, CITU State Committee was also present on the occasion. Hundreds of workers
