The Makkal Mamanram (People's Tribune), now stands majestically as a two-storied edifice, because of the joint initiative of the Left Trade Union Centre (LTUC, affiliated to AICCTU) and the Solidarity Forum, with the cooperation of the United Labour Federation (ULF), the Working People's Trade Union Centre (WPTUC) and Comrade Paramasivam.
The People’s Tribune is built not just by construction materials but by the contribution and involvement of thousands of workers and a dream that has come true. On the stairs of every floor of the building are inscribed with the slogans, "Labor is noble; let the laborers rule the world", "One for all, and all for one", "Without us, there is no nation”, "Down with Capitalism! Long live Socialism!", etc.
The inauguration of the Makkal Mamanram was carried out by the workers themselves. The ground floor was inaugurated by women sanitation worker comrades Lakshmi, Annalakshmi, Selvi, Meghala, and Sathya. The first floor was inaugurated by Gopi, a trainee, along with Damodharan and Rudran, both contract workers. The second floor was inaugurated by rural worker comrades Anusuya and Kannaiyan.
The Solidarity Forum states that any trade union or Works Committee may conduct meetings, and organizations that are pro-people and dedicated to the welfare of the masses can hold their gatherings here without any fee. Furthermore, the doors of this building will be wide open to welcome and conduct marriages of couples in love, transcending the barriers of caste and religion. The doors of the Makkal Mamanram stand open to those who possess immense love for the people, profound indignation toward injustice, and a steadfast commitment to upholding the ethics and values of the Constitution. This People's Tribune - a sanctuary of love, virtues, and camaraderie - will play a pivotal role in elevating the working class to positions of leadership of the society.
On the call of the Solidarity Forum, workers from Hyundai, Leyland, MRF, and Diamond Chain visited rural areas on multiple occasions to join hands and work alongside agricultural laborers. The Solidarity Forum had also guided workers in extending a helping hand to the people devastated by the Tsunami.
In the course of the movement of Pricol workers for their trade union rights, the agricultural laborers embraced and supported them when workers were arrested on charges of murder and subsequently were on a conditional bail at Gandarvakottai in Pudukkottai district.
With the most exploitative apprenticeship system and the denial of permanent status in Tamil Nadu, worker vanguards conducted a massive signature campaign and several awareness rallies in order to secure protection for apprentices and temporary workers through an amendment Act 47/2008, and to advocate amendments in the act for trade Union Recognition.
What does the Makkal Maamanram intend to do?
Working people, both within and outside industrial establishments, contribute significantly to social production. Yet, the fruits of this social production are snatched away by the capital, the private ownership. Contemporary parliamentary and electoral politics, effectively facilitate the rule of capitalists, the wealthy elite, and the dominant forces by merely garnering the people's votes.
The working-class politics is meant to transform the workers’ consciousness of ‘class in itself’ to become a ‘class for itself’ through their awakening and through a collective consciousness and unity, and to inspire them to rise up as a united force for their own cause. The solidarity of workers must transcend the boundaries of individual union flags and extend beyond the walls of their respective factory workplaces. The permanent employees must raise voices for non-permanent, trainee and contract workers. The factory workers, whose collective organizing is feasible, should work towards mobilising sanitation guards and sanitation workers in both urban and rural areas, scheme workers, gig workers, migrant laborers, and agricultural workers.
Our dreams must become the dreams of the working people. To turn these dreams into a reality, concrete actions and organized functioning are essential. For those dedicated to serving the people, the doors of the Makkal Mamanram shall always remain open. Let us dream, and let us strive to make those dreams a reality.
On this occasion, 3,008 comrades joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of the CPI(ML) Liberation, the Chief Guest, hoisted the red flag.
Comrade T. Parvendhan, Principal Secretary of the Samathuva Vazhakkariñar Sangam (Equality Lawyers' Association) of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), participated in the event. The President of the Ponthur Panchayat also attended, while both including the President of the Sengadu Panchayat contributed financially for the program.
AICCTU all India President V. Shankar, Advisor S. Kumarasami, State President K. Bharathi, LTUC-AICCTU comrades A.S. Kumar, Jyothi, Rajaguru, and Rajesh; CPI(ML) State Secretary Pazha Asaithambi, CCM Balasundaram; President of the Working People's Trade Union Forum, R. Kuchelar, Comrade Mariappan of the United Labour Federation; and Comrade Chandrasekar of the Hosur Trade Union Federation and Advocate Paramasivam delivered speeches at the inaugural function of the People's Tribune, along with others. Comrades from the CPI (ML), AICCTU, LTUC, and the Solidarity Forum gathered in large numbers at the function venue.
Hundreds of workers from 32 corporate and multinational companies including Hyundai, Daimler, Nissan, Royal Enfield, Asian Paints, Motherson, Sanmina, TI Diamond Chain, Hinduja, etc., joined the inaugural function along with sanitation guards and sanitation workers from various districts, including the Chennai Corporation.
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A Charter of Struggle By the Solidarity Forum
[Presented to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and to political parties to be included in their election manifestos, on Behalf of Workers of the Chennai, the State Capital Region]
- Ensure 8-hour workday and a 5-day work-week; Guarantee permanent employment lakhs of workers.
- Ensure "Equal Pay for Equal Work" for non-permanent and contract workers.
- Refuse to enact state-rules that would facilitate the implementation of the four anti-worker Labour Codes.
- Ensure a daily wage of ₹1,250 and guarantee the regularization of, at least, 10 percent of non-permanent and contract workers every year in the state capital region of Chennai.
- Release the two Pricol workers who are in jail for more than ten years.
- Abolish the system of contract labour and consolidated pay.
- Take concrete measures to protect the right to protest, right to unionisation and to safeguard the interests of women workers.
- Declare gig workers engaged by companies such as Amazon, Swiggy, Ola, and Uber as "workers" and enact protective legislation for them.
- Establish a "Workers' Park", designed to serve as a space for workers gatherings, recreation and growth.
- Immediately formulate necessary rules for the implementation the Standing Orders (Amendment) Act!
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