From Shackles to Solidarity: Workers Vow to Defeat ‘Slavery-Style’ Labour Codes
BENGALURU – In a powerful display of defiance against what has been termed a government-led assault on the working class, hundreds of workers gathered at Gandhi Bhavan today to send a clear message: the era of exploitation must end.
The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) Workers’ Convention served as the launching pad for a nationwide call to action, culminating in a General Strike on February 12th. The primary target is the repeal of the four new Labour Codes, which critics argue dismantle decades of hard-won rights in favor of corporate interests.
ಗುಲಾಮಗಿರಿಯ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ರಣಕಹಳೆ: ‘ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಸಂಹಿತೆ’ಗಳನ್ನು ಸೋಲಿಸಲು ಭೀಷ್ಮ ಶಪಥ
A Judicial Warning: “The Path to Slavery”
The convention was marked by a searing critique from Sri. V. Gopala Gowda, Retired Justice of the Supreme Court. In a rare and bold move, the former jurist condemned recent judicial skepticism toward unions, emphasizing that trade unions are the bedrock of dignity and equality.
“These Labour Codes have been implemented to turn workers into pawns without providing minimum wages, job security, or social security,” Justice Gowda stated. He warned that the new legal framework does not just reform industry—it dehumanizes the individual. “Forget equality; these codes will push workers into a state of slavery.”
#MGNREGA Bachao | #Karnataka #Bengaluru
A broad coalition of farmers, workers & activists held a Maha Panchayat in Bengaluru, demanding the Karnataka govt @INCKarnataka, led by @siddaramaiah and @DKShivakumar reject the central VB-Gram G Act & urge the President to continue… pic.twitter.com/ynrQGvQc9F
— RafeeQ Jabbar Naqshbandi (@azzharee) February 2, 2026
Justice Gowda further lamented the Supreme Court’s failure to recognize the vital contributions of domestic workers and the unorganized sector. He called for a movement of historic proportions, stating, “If these codes are to be withdrawn, the working class must prepare for a struggle similar to the farmers’ protest against the black farm laws at the Delhi borders.”
Challenging the Corporate-Government Nexus
The atmosphere at the convention was one of intense resolve. Leaders accused the current administration of trading the sweat of the common citizen for the profits of “crony capitalists.”
AICCTU State President Comrade P.P. Appanna noted that the country is being sold piece-by-piece to corporate giants. “Corporate-friendly Labour Codes have been implemented to exploit labour for maximum profit,” he said, urging workers to look beyond the government’s rhetoric and see the mechanisms of exploitation hidden within the fine print.
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The Fight for a Living Wage
The debate over wages remains at the heart of the resistance. While the cost of living skyrockets, the new codes introduce “floor wages”—a concept union leaders describe as a race to the bottom.
“The Labour Codes pose a challenge to the working class; we are facing a decisive moment,” said AICCTU National Vice President Comrade Clifton D’Rozario. “We must either accept slavery or fight for dignified work. While workers demand a wage of ₹42,000, the government offers ‘floor wages’ that barely ensure survival, let alone a life of dignity.”
A Call to Action: The February 12th Strike
The convention saw a diverse coalition of the workforce—from sanitation workers (pourakarmikas) and garment makers to high-tech employees from HAL, DRDO, and the gig economy (Swiggy and Zomato).
AICCTU National President Comrade V. Shankar highlighted that while Karnataka’s municipal workers won regularization through grit and protest, those gains are now under threat. He urged the working class to “teach the government a lesson” by paralyzing the machinery of exploitation on February 12th.
State Secretary Comrade Maitreyi, who is currently serving on a Kerala-based committee to draft pro-worker alternatives to the codes, reminded the crowd that rights are never given—they are taken. “The Modi government is spreading lies by claiming these codes benefit workers,” she said. Invoking the spirit of revolutionary icons, she added, “Pro-worker laws came only through struggle. We must build a resistance like Bhagat Singh, who fought the Trade Disputes Bill with his life.”
The Road Ahead: Hope in Resistance
The convention concluded with the release of the booklet “Karmika Samhitegalu: Modi Kattuttiruva Sullugala Anavarana” (Labour Codes: Unveiling the Lies being Built), intended to educate the masses on the legislative threat they face.
While the government continues to push policies that marginalize the backbone of the nation, the energy in Bengaluru suggests that the flame of justice is far from extinguished. To those fighting for their rights: your labor is the foundation of this nation, and your unity is your greatest weapon. The injustice of the powerful is temporary; the collective will of the people is enduring.
