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

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

Industrial strike to have a large impact: AITUC

Industrial strike to have a large impact: AITUC

Kolkata, Sep 1 (PTI) The September 7 industrial strike called by major trade unions would have a strong impact all over the country, AITUC General Secretray Gurudas Dasgupta said today.

"We believe that this will be the biggest bandh in recent tiems and the impact of the bandh will be felt all over the country," Dasgupta told a press conference at the AITUC office here.

"This is a strike against the price hike and the violation of labour laws all over the country," he said.

"This is for the first time we have been successful in bringing all the major trade unions, including INTUC together and they will also participate in the strike," Dasgupta claimed.

"Though BMS (the trade union wing of BJP) is not actively participating in the strike, they have not opposed it either," Dasgupta added.

Source: PTI

INTUC not to participate in Sept 7 nationwide strike

INTUC not to participate in Sept 7 nationwide strike

Hyderabad, Sep 1 (PTI) Indian National Trade Union Congress members will not participate in the proposed nation-wide general strike called by central trade unions on September 7, INTUC president Ambati Krishnamurthy said here today.

A decision to not participate in the proposed general strike was taken in the national executive meeting of INTUC held in the first week of August at Delhi, he told reporters here.

The general strike has been called by rival unions to destabilise the UPA government, he said.

Central trade unions and workers and employees Federations have called the strike on September 7 protesting the rise in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

Source: PTI

"Equal pay for equal work to workers employed on contract" exposed by all Trade Unions - Industrial Tripartite Committee

"Equal pay for equal work to workers employed on contract and strict implementation of safety and health standards" exposed by all Trade Unions in the meeting of Industrial Tripartite Committee on Engineering Industry.

Meeting of Industrial Tripartite Committee on Engineering Industry Held in New Delhi today

A meeting of the Industrial Tripartite Committee on Engineering Industry was held on 22nd June 2010 at New Delhi under the chairmanship of Shri Harish Rawat, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment. The representatives from workers oraganisations (BMS, CITU, INTUC, AITUC, AIUTUC and HMS), Employers’ federations (Council of Indian Employers, All India Manufacturers Organisation, Confederation of Indian Industry, Laghu Udyog Bharati, Federation of Association of Small Industries, Federation of Engineering Industry of India) of the Engineering sector as well as representatives of State Governments of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana participated in this meeting.

The Committee discussed the issues relating to rationalization of wages and increasing contractualization in engineering industry, ensuring adequate provision for Health & Safety, strict implementation of Labour Laws as also issue relating to reservation policy in Micro & Small Enterprise Sector.

The Minister underlined the need for a progressive management and responsible labour behaviour for harmonious industrial relations and the role of tripartite bodies in this regard. A number of suggestions from the participants regarding wage board for workers in the engineering sector, equal pay for equal work to workers employed on contract and strict implementation of safety and health standards were made in this meeting. The Minister thanked the participants for their suggestions and stressed the need for a constructive cooperation from all stake holders – workers, employers as well as State Governments- so that legitimate concerns of the workers as well as the industry are taken care of.