Madikeri: Several labor unions across the country will be taking part in the national wide strike pressing implementation of their demands and the employees attached to both private and public sectors are likely to join the strike on September 2.
Addressing the press conference district CITU general secretary Ramesh said, people fed up with the Congress rule brought in BJP government but the BJP government has ignored the labor community by indulging extensively in privatization and globalization.
The unions will be protesting against the labour bill amendment and urge the government to control price rise and improve the living conditions of labour community who are still working like bonded labourers, he clarified.
He sought help from the District chamber of commerce, bus and Auto rickshaw unions and asked the shop owners to down the shutters atleast till noon on the day of strike. He said that Anganawadi, Aksahara Dasoha, Gram Panchayatha and all labourers working in organised and unorganized sectors will join the strike.
Rally will proceed from Field Marshal Cariappa circle where 10,000 people are likely to take part, he confirmed. Employees coming under INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC,TUCC, LIC,BSNL, BANKS, AICCTU and state employee unions members will be joining the strike, he confirmed.
Addressing the meet INTUC district president TP Hameed said, around 80% in the district belong to labour class and most businesses depend on them and hence urged the shop keepers to support the strike.
BSNL employees’ district union president Anthony said, the BJP government by resolving to privatization and contract labor has ignored the interests of employees despite the firm making profits. The contract laborers are made to work hard for long hours and are not paid salaries on time increasing their misery, he alleged supporting the strike call.
Echoing his resentment against the BJP led central government the LIC Zonal employees union vice president Janardhan said, the central government by resorting to privatization is ignoring employees interests which began with the increase in Foreign Direct Investment from 26% to 49%. Now it has plans to list the four public sector insurance companies in stock exchange allowing corporate culture to set in insurance sector. The plan to change the labour laws from existing 40 to 5 by the government is destructive to the employee interests and sought concerted efforts by employees to fight against government moves.
Labour union demands include arresting price rise, prevent wild elephant attacks to protect human lives and crops, allotment of sites for labourers, fixing minimum wages at Rs 18,000, restarting labour courts, stop disinvestment of public sector units, Uniform implementation of labor laws, amendment to land reforms bill among many other demands.
AITUC president Somappa and INTUC president Dharmapopa were present in the press conference among others and supported the strike call.
