A massive cycle rally of jute workers was organized by IFTU on 7th September 2001 in Hoogly. Truck loads of jute workers poured in from the various jute mills situated along the Hoogly river belt. Hundreds of cyclists along with two thousand jute workers on foot made up the rally which marched 30 kms. from Bally to Chandannagar raising militant and rousing slogans and holding aloft IFTU flags, festoons, placards and banners. The rally aimed at building up a strong movement of jute workers all over Bengal on their long pending demands. It was led by IFTU President Com. Paltu Sen and other leaders of the state IFTU committee and raised 12 major demands. These included raising ceiling on Bonus, to stop various types of casual employments and regularize workers, immediate payment of all outstanding wages, ESI and PF dues, withdrawal of false cases against jute workers and punishment of the police officers guilty of violence against them, and to lift the illegal suspension clamped by corrupt owner of Kanoria mill.

On 15th September, a joint Convention was held at Rishra in the Mahesh Ravindra Bhawan. It was organized by IFTU, CSWTU, BCMF, Majdoor Ekta Sangh, Kanoria Jute Sangrami Shramik Union, Shri Hanuman Jute Mill Majdoor Samiti and others. Around one thousand workers filled the Hall to overflowing. Com. Paltu addressed the meeting on behalf of IFTU.

A state-wide jute workers agitation is being contemplated on the attempts of the mill owners to shift the burden of the owners-made crisis onto the jute workers and for the demand for payment of Bonus within 30th September, 2001.