Trade union bodies to stage strike against Modi's 'anti-people policies'

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, Aug 10: The district leaders of BMS, INTUC, CITU, AITUC, AIUTUC, AICCTU, TUCC, TUCC (Cachar) and EWTCC along with Central Trade Union have decided to call for a mass general strike in the district along with rest of the country on September 2 against the anti worker and anti people policies adopted by the present rendra Modi led NDA Government at the Centre. The district union leaders and members expressed their concern over the anti people and pro corporate actions taken by the Centre in the past one year.

The trade union leaders and members alleged that in the last one year the government has been only busy with amending all labour laws to empower the corporate class with unfettered power to ‘hire and fire’ the employees at their will. The Centre is also trying to strip the trade unions of their legal and legitimate rights and benefits. They alleged that the government has been aggressively pushing for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in public sectors including defence, railway, health care, postal services and fincial sectors.

They further said that the Centre has not yet taken any steps to implement the recommendations of 43rd, 44th and 45th Indian Labour Conference on the formulation of minimum wage and benefits at par with regular workers to those employed in Central Government schemes including Anganwadi, Midday Meal, ASHA among others. On the contrary the government has reduced budget allocation for centrally sponsored schemes like MGNREGS which are meant for welfare of common people.

The members raised 13 point charter of demands which include concrete steps by the Centre for containing price rise and mounting unemployment, strict implementation of labour laws, halting of large scale contractual appointment in public sector, ensuring minimum wage for all not less than Rs.15,000 per month along with social security and pension for the workers including those employed in unorganized sectors. Besides, the demand is also for immediate implementation of Street Vendors (protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending) Act, 2014 to protect the vendors. They also demanded strict enforcement of labour laws and punishment to its violators.

The demands also include compulsory registration of trade unions within 45 days and ratifications of 87th and 98th Intertiol Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. The leaders and members also denounced the move of the government in allowing FDI in crucial sectors. They said that it will be detrimental to the interests of the tion. They also urged  immediate opening of Silchar-Lumding BG route for passenger services immediately along with speedy completion of Silchar-Saurashtra Mahasadak.

In order to make the all India general strike a success, a series of activities will be taken up by the district labour unions including a joint convention on August 23 in the premises of Women’s College which will be followed by district level awareness programme from August 25 to August 31. A rally will also be organized on September 1 to involve the common people in this fight for protecting the rights and privileges labour and common people.