Civic Bodies Workers’ Federation to launch stir 

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR, Feb 20: The All Assam Civic Bodies Workers’ Federation is contemplating to launch its next phase of agitation from February 21 to February 25 to press for their long-standing demands. The workers’ body is demanding provincialization of civic body workers and employees on the basis of a 2013 cabinet decision to move a bill in this context, regularization of jobs of muster roll workers, fixed pay and contractual workers, release of un-paid salaries up to 50 months of workers and devolution of funds as per provisions of PRI Act 1992 and 1993.

According to a release signed by Hemanta Changmai and Rajiv Chetia, the president and secretary of the Sivasagar unit of the All Assam Civic Bodies Workers Federation here, the civic workers have decided to stage demonstrations in front of the Sivasagar Municipality Board office for five days demanding immediate release of their last 16 months’ salary, besides other demands. Non-release of their salary has led their families to dire straits and the workers’ body has appealed to the public to support their cause in rallies to be held on February 21.

As a part of their agitation, the workers’ body had already sent memoranda to the Chief Minister, the Fince Minister and the Minister in charge of Local Self-Governments on February 17. On February 18, the workers bodies organized regiol meetings as a campaign to raise awareness of the general public.

The federation will hold a State-level convention in Guwahati of the workers bodies’ representatives, leaders of political parties, intellectuals and workers’ unions on February 26 and in the event of non-fulfillment of their demands, the federation will resort to complete shutdown of work for an indefinite period.