All India Workers’ Strike On July 9 Will Be A Time Of Reckoning

By Dr. Gyan Pathak

All indications emanating from the industrial belts across the country suggest that the All India Workers’ Strike on July 9, 2025 will be a time of reckoning, the consequences of which, whether good or bad, must be faced and dealt with, both by the workers’ unions and the Union Government led by PM Narendra Modi. The success or failure of this general strike may decide the fate of implementation of the four controversial labour codes, which are at present put on hold, but the Centre wants to implement them as soon as possible.

The dichotomy that is being perceived in the Centre’s actions has made the workers most apprehensive about the real intention of the government. The government has put on hold the implementation of the four labour codes – one after the passage in the Parliament of India in 2019, and the three in 2020 – for a range of reasons from stiff opposition from the workers, which included numerous protests including all India strike actions, to unpreparedness of the Centre and States with their set of rules, and India Inc with necessary measures in place. However, it has been implementing various provisions of the codes, in the present framework of labour laws.

Existing labour laws are being amended not only at the Central level but also on the state levels. For example, many state governments have amended the labour laws to allow night shift work for women, fixed term employment and have increased the threshold level of workers for applicability of labour laws like Factories Act, Contract Labour Act and Industrial Dispute Act, giving a free hand for the employers to ‘hire and fire’. The states like West Bengal and Kerala are among those who have been objecting to various provisions under the labour codes.

Centre had an intention to implement the labour codes from April 1, 2025, since around 30 States and UTs had already published the draft rules in line with the four codes, and about 20 had implemented those changes. Nevertheless, notification was deferred on account of stiff opposition of the joint platform of the 10 Central Trade Unions and some reservations expressed on some provisions even by the government supporting Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.

One of the major reasons of the Centre going back on their intention of implementing the labour codes from April 1, 2025, was the call given by the National Convention of Workers held in New Delhi on March 18, 2025 for an all India workers’ strike on May 20, 2025 at the conclusion of their two months workers’ campaign against anti-labour policies of the Centre in general and against the new labour codes and privatisation of public sector undertakings in particular. The workers’ movement was called for pressing on their 17-point demands.

In the meantime, the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 led to India’s military retaliation against Pakistan on May 7, nicknamed Operation Sindoor. Then the joint platform of 10 Central Trade Unions – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPR, and UTUC – and the Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations, met on May 15, in New Delhi to reviews the situation, and decided to reschedule the workers strike on July 9.

A preparatory agitational programme with protest activities had also been announced to be observed across the country from June 20 to July 8 for the final all India strike action on July 9. The preparatory agitational programmes so far has been very impressive, and hence one can conclude that the July 9 workers’ strike will be massive.

Bank and Insurance Unions have announced to participate in the nationwide strike. Their key demands include halting privatisation, opposition FDI hike, and restoring Old Pension Scheme among others. The participating Bank and Insurance sector unions are – AIBEA, AIBOA, BEFI, AIIEA, AILICEF and AINLIEF (INTUC).

Farmers and Farm workers unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, will also be participating in the workers’ strike, which will make July 9 strike action even stronger with their presence on the roads and streets across the country.

The left political parties have already jointly extended their support to the general strike and called upon their rank and file and their supporters to ensure that the general strike is a resounding success.

The government supported BMS will not be participating in this strike. They are not either opposing or supporting the strike, which makes July 9 strike something more significant.

Several other workers organisations and employees’ unions are jumping in to participate. For example, 27 lakh power sector employees in Uttar Pradesh will be on strike to protest Uttar Pradesh government’s move to privatise two discoms that cover 42 of the state’s 75 districts. The umbrella body, National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE), power employees, junior engineers, and engineers across the country will be demonstrating across the country against the privatisation moves. Several other states’ power sector employees may also go on strike. Maharashtra Power Workers Union has already decided to go on strike, while electricity employees’ unions may follow suit.

Scheme workers, such as Anganwadi workers in several states will also go on strike with their own demands, such as increase in their salary and giving them employee status. Anganwadi workers of Himachal Pradesh has already announced to go for strike, and Anganwadi workers of other states may also join.

The opposition Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc) parties in Bihar have decided to participate in the July 9 workers strike and will raise the voice against Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls. RJD and CPI(M)L have already prepared their own agitational programmes on July 9 across the state.

Workers from several Mines and Collieries are also going to participate in this strike. It is also a new feature of the July 9 strike since they have traditionally their own agitational programmes.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation has also supported the strike, and called upon all its affiliated unions to hold protest demonstrations to make the strike a success.

The preparatory agitational programmes being conducted across the country indicates that the July 9 workers’ strike might be one of the largest workers strike in the country in which over 20 crore workers are likely to participate. This strike is not like any other countrywide general strikes out of 22 held in India so far, but has special significance, since it seeks to protect the basic rights of workers, such as their right to organise and collective action, and their unity and struggle against anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the government. (IPA Service)