Govt policies dividing labourers, says BMS

Pressing for various demands of the workers, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Tuesday took out a huge rally in the city. The rally began from the Martyr's Memorial at Government Hostel and culminated at Udyog Maidan which was addressed by prominent trade union leaders.

Addressing the meeting, national general secretary of the BMS, K Laxma Reddy said the central and state governments are adopting double standards on the welfare of workers. Their policy is intended to divide the workers. The central and the state governments had implemented the sixth pay commission to its employees. While the gratuity limit of the government employees had been raised from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh with retrospective effect from January 1, 2006, the same is not given to the employees of the public sector, he said.

Alleging that the central policy is in favour of the capitalists, Reddy said while the central government had announced a Rs 2 lakh crore package to the industries to tide over the recession, no consideration was given to the workers who have been reeling under an unprecedented price rise and inflation. He said whatever fund has been allocated in the name of social security is like a drop in the ocean.

Dr B K Rai, in charge of the Western region of BMS, charged both the state and central governments with not complying with their own labour laws. The government jobs of permanent nature being given on contract is a violation of the Labour Act. At present, even in departments like power, transport and PHED, the employees were appointed on contract. The government should stop this practice at once, he demanded.

Raj Bihari Sharma, state president of BMS said while the state government had given the sixth pay commission to its employees about three years back, it has failed to enhance the minimum wages of the labourers till now. He said the minimum wages of Rs 130 unilaterally announced by the state government is inadequate and is a cruel joke on the labourers.

BMS state president Prahlad Singh Awana demanded that the people employed as Anganwadi workers , Sahyogini Sathiyon and assitants were being exploited and demanded their regularisation as government employees.

Source;timesofindia

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Major trade unions to hold march to Parliament on Feb 23

Major trade unions to hold march to Parliament on Feb 23

Major trade unions barring BJP-affiliate BMS today decided to hold a march to Parliament ahead of the Budget session next year to protest Government’s “inaction” in checking price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of profitable PSUs.

The march would be organised on February 23 next year.

At a meeting chaired by INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy, top trade union leaders decided to “further intensify their movement” as the Government had not taken “any steps to resolve the demands of the people and workers,” AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta told PTI.

He said the meeting congratulated the working class for the “historic” general strike on September 7 to press for Government action in arresting inflation, disinvestment of PSUs and to check violation of labour laws.]

Source: PTI

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Eight trade unions backing call for strike tomorrow

Eight trade unions backing call for strike tomorrow

Government employees and many of those working in the private sector will go on a one-day countrywide general strike on Tuesday under the banner of eight major trade unions including Congress-affiliated INTUC against price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of PSUs.

"Nearly six crore workers will participate in the strike across the country. Those employed in private sector will also join the strike in many places," AITUC general secretary and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta told a news agency in New Delhi on Monday.

AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC and federations of different categories of workers and employees will participate in the general strike, which has been called by Coordination Committee of Central Trade Unions headed by INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy, he said.

"This is going to be biggest strike that ever happened in recent years in this country as after 63 years all the trade unions have come together on a common platform," Dasgupta claimed.

All the "branches of economy" will be affected due to strike as workers from sectors including coal, power, telecom, banks, insurance, defence, port and dock, road transport, petroleum and construction will join the call, he said.

Trade unions earlier had drawn up a five-point charter "asking the government to curb the price rise but nothing was done," he charged.

"The trade unions have been agitating against disinvestment of public sector. They (trade unions) are angry because labour laws are being violated," he said.

Trade unions want massive investment for social security for unorganised labourers. "We are also protesting job loss and contractualisation of jobs in the country," he added.

Dasgupta said that the strike will not be the "last thing". If the situation does not improve, workers will march to Parliament in February next year.

"Trade unions can not be marginalised. They must be heard.We want social justice, reasonable share of the wealth workers produce. That's all," he added.

BJP-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), however, has kept itself away from the strike call.

"BMS is not participating in the strike as it is politically motivated and not for the welfare of workers," vice president of Delhi unit of the union Kiran Dutta said. (RBY-06/09)

Source: DDI News

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