The resolution of May Day 2002, placed before the meeting by Ashok Ghosh of the TUCC, and subsequently adopted unanimously, spoke of the globalisation-liberalisation-privatisation drive of the TNC’s as a sign that the global corporate capital was seeking a way out of a deep-seated crisis. The crisis has already manifested itself in the so-called "advanced" capitalist countries as a rapidly decreasing production, a shrinking and distorted market structure, a high rate of joblessness, and a widening ambit of social unrest.

The neo-colonial thrust of the global corporate capital, the resolution noted, was reflected in the search for markets, and in the attacks being orchestrated against the hard-earned rights of the workers-employees. The process is accompanied by political encroachment by the US imperialists and their cohorts on the sovereignty of nations of the Third World.

The resolution noted that the entire phenomenon was being clearly seen in India where a weak-kneed union government was ready to oblige the "unholy trinity" of WTO-IMF-World Bank by going out of its way and putting the country’s economic and political sovereignty on the line. Attempts are made to coerce the state governments to fall in line or to suffer from cut backs on central assistance.

Addressing the rally, CITU leader, Chittabrata Majumdar said that the way out of the imbroglio was to sharpen the workers’ struggles further in the face of the mounting assault being launched against the country by corporate capital. Majumdar pointed out that global corporate capital and their local agents were out to isolate the working class through orchestrating acts of terrorism and wanton violence.

A subsidiary, and highly volatile, component of the newer form of attack was manifest in the effort to brand a particular community as "terrorist" worldwide in order to weaken the solidarity of the working people. Communal fault-lines existing in the country, said the CITU leader, to wreak havoc on the working people’s unity nationwide even as a plethora of anti-people policies were being put in motion. The conspiratorial moves of the ruling classes in utilising the communal card to frustrate the struggles of the working people must be thwarted through mass mobilisation and mass movements all over the country, said Chittabrata Majumdar.

In his address, veteran CITU leader, and Polit Bureau member of the CPI (M), Jyoti Basu (who mounted the dais amidst a tumult of slogans) exhorted upon the workers to take a pledge for carrying forth the struggle for the establishment of a society free from exploitation. He also called upon them to concentrate their efforts to the political task at hand, which was to bring increasing pressure on the BJP-led union government to either mend its ways or to quit.

"We," said Basu, "must follow up the undoubted success of the April 16 strike action to organise greater working class actions in the days ahead and at an all-India level." In order to make the programmes a success, there was need, pointed out the former Bengal chief minister, for the political consciousness of the workers to be raised further. Basu emphasised the importance of the coming together of all TU’s irrespective of political differences and he also spoke on the importance of organising joint TU actions from down below at the grass-roots." The uncivilised and barbaric regime of the BJP must be removed, and this should be the vow of May Day 2002, Basu concluded.

Other speakers at the Rally included Saral Deb (TUCC), Atanu Sarbadhikari (AICCTU), Sankar Saha (UTUC-LS), Ranjit Guha (AITUC), Chunilal Dasgupta (12th July Committee), and Shibshankar Ray (united movement of Railways, Defence, P & T workers-employees). Nanda Srimani of the AITUC presided over this year’s May Day rally. Besides the central Kolkata rally, the CITU in conjunction with other Left TU’s organised May Day rallies throughout the province on May Day 2002.