Eight AICCTU activists who are employees of a private company Pricol were sentenced to double life imprisonment on this Thursday in a shocking judgement of the sessions court case that began following the militant agitation by workers in September, 2009. CPI (ML) and AICCTU extend their wholehearted support to the Pricol workers who have decided to file an appeal against the double life imprisonment meted out to 8 of their co-workers by the sessions judge of the bomb blast cases court. Making use of the tragic death of Mr. Roy George, Pricol’s HR Vice President, the police foisted a criminal case against 27 persons including Com. S. Kumarasami, National President of AICCTU and Polit-bureau member of CPI(ML). This was done to crush the majority trade unions which were fighting for recognition. The workers of Pricol Limited have decided to seek justice not only in the courts of law but also in the people’s court pointing out the facts that the judgment is completely against the evidence on record and that it is only based on assumptions and conjectures. The said judgment does not deal with many of the arguments submitted by the defence. This judgment only sends a message that struggling workers and trade unions will be penalized. The hasty and hurried manner in which this judgment has been announced it is quite clear that the verdict is a product of the inherent class prejudice and bias of the capitalist system against the workers.
The CPI (ML) and AICCTU have launched a campaign to “Save People; Save Democracy”. The CPI (ML) and AICCTU call upon the workers, trade unions, left, democratic and progressive forces to extend solidarity to the Pricol workers in their struggle for justice. Massive demonstrations in the district headquarters were held by AICCTU in support of the jailed Pricol workers. Also in rain-battered and power- starving Chennai, our comrades held a huge demonstration.
In this hour of massive distress, Pricol workers not only took resolve to fight for justice for their fellow comrades, but also have decided to extend a helping hand to the rain and flood affected people in Tamil Nadu.
Red Salute to the indomitable fighting spirit of Pricol Workers!
