Invite for Public Meeting to commemorate the Historic textile workers strike

On  Jan 18th at Maharashtra High School Maidan,

NM Joshi Marg, near Lower Parel and Currey Road stations

at 4.30 pm

Dear friends

It was on January 18th,  30 years ago that textile mill workers of Mumbai went on the indefinite city -wide mills strike which turned into a historic battle between the mill owners, government and recognised union on the one hand and the workers on the other. The government and mill owners won that round, but what the world still remembers most is the sheer grit and tenacity of the Mumbai textile mill workers and proud tradition of struggle that they represent.

30 years later Mumbai’s  textie mill workers are still fighting. In a changing metropolis, and a globalised world, textile mill workers are fighting for the right to remain in a city they have played a major role in building, They have established thier right to alternate work and housing in principle and the struggle continues to make this a reality for the workers and their families.

This January 18th, textile workers will commemorate the Mumbai textile workers strike, not as defeat, but as a proud moment in the history of working class struggle, and a symbol of their resolve to continue the struggle.

The meeting will also symbolise the common context and the links between the struggles of the workers and the farmers in Maharashtra, where both are fighting a bitter battle for survival.

Speakers

Raju Shetty, Member of Paliament,  farmer leader, Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana

Gajanana Khatu, political thinker, writer

and

Bhushan Samant (President, MGKU)

Datta Iswlakar (President, GKSS)

Please join us, and please forward this message widely.

In struggle and solidarity

Jaiprakash Bhilare, Maharashtra Girni Kamgar Union

Pravin Ghag, Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti