Working Class Must Unite Against US and its War Games: Michael Makwayiba

Chennai: The United States, with cruel intentions of capturing resources, will be a party to start a world war affecting working class women and youth across the world, said Michael Makwayiba, president of World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). He was addressing the 16th national conference of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) here, which began on Thursday. 

Addressing over 2,000 delegates in the five-day conference, the WFTU president called upon the working class to unite in the fight against imperialist forces and its wars. 

Congratulating the Indian working class for its “continuous fight against the anti-worker policies of the government,” Makwayiba called for broader unity of the working class. "The tactics of capitalism need to be resisted with united resistance and struggles of the working class. In the present scenario, a progressive society must prioritise the liberation of the working class, particularly women,” he said. 

Referring to the tension between the US and Iran, the WFTU chief said: "The uniformed men and women who are going to fight this war are our children. They are going to die not because they are fighting for their own interests. But because they are fighting for the interests of the capitalist class". 

Speaking on the rising unemployment, he said, "A huge majority of the 4.4 million people are unemployed around the world, of which the women and youth form a very huge majority. Our further struggles and programmes should focus on the failure of the capitalist society in providing employment and work, towards a viable alternative which is inclusive,” and called upon “communist parties across the world to meet and chart out a solution for problems that capitalism has miserably failed to address."

On Friday, the conference was also addressed by Mariam Dhawle, general secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association, who emphasised the importance of recognising women workers. "Domestic labour is free labour, unaccounted labour. So, women actually hold up a little more than half the sky! Let's strive to win for women the rightful place that they deserve. A life of equality and a life of dignity", she said.

The conference on Friday passed a resolution to advance the struggles for women's equality in all aspects and against social oppression and also decided to hold a ‘Jail Bharo’ on March 8, 2020, on the occasion of International Women's Day. The resolution also demanded

state governments to ensure 33% reservation for women in all elected bodies.