Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 2: On the call of Central Trade Unions of the country for All India general strike, J&K joint platform of Trade Unions comprising CITU, INTUC, AITUC, Insurance, Banks, BSNL, Central Government employees organised a workers’ rally at Press Club here today against the anti-workers and anti-people policies of Modi Government.
They were protesting against disinvestment/privatisation and attack on workers’ rights and pressing `for 12-point charter of demands, curbing of price rise and universalisation of public distribution system, job protection, enforcement of labour laws, social security for un-organised sector workers, stoppage of disinvestment in PSUs, fixation of minimum wages not less than Rs 15000 per month, pension for all, equal wages and benefits to the contract workers, ensuring the right to organisation and collective bargaining, removal of ceiling of bonus, ESI, Gratuity, compulsory registration of Trade unions within a period of 45 days and ratification of ILO Convention No. 87 and 98, rollback anti-farmers Land Acquisition Bill, increase allocation for MNREGA, regularization of ASHA, Anganwari, mid-day-meal workers, daily wages, contractual, need-base workers working in PHE, PDD and in other department of State Government.
The workers holding red flages, banners and placards in their hands were shouting slogans for the unity and integrity of the toiling masses of the country.
Stating that the frequent amendments to labour laws have so far armed the employers further, state general secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Om Parkash said that these amendments have deprived the working class who need coordinated efforts and a united resistance to safeguard their own interests across the country especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Parkash expressed serious concern over the plight of the working class which is adversely hit by the neo-liberal economic policies pursued by the Central Government.
Shiv Kumar Sharma, president INTUC voicing his serious concerned over the plight of daily wagers, contractual and need based workers who have been working in PHE for a long time struggling for their regularization but the State Government has done nothing so far. He said in our state the unemployment is still a major problem and the condition of already existing casual, daily rated, daily wagers, CPWs, NYC is no different than the state. He said regularisation of the services of these workers in different departments is distant dreams in the state.
Balkar Singh, senior vice president of AITUC said most of families of unorganized sector workers, agricultural workers or small and marginal peasants are the beneficiaries of Centrally sponsored schemes and slashing their budgetary allocations have directly hit these families the worst. He said instead of increasing the allocations for these schemes, the Union Government has adopted deceptive ploy of announcement of social security scheme just to hoodwink the un-organised sector.
Pawan Gupta, general secretary, NZIEA, expressed his serious concern over unlimited FDI in Insurance, Banks, Railways, Defence and Financial sector. He demanded the present Govt to roll back its decision forthwith.
Representatives of the other unions who participated included Raghuvir Singh from INTUC, Ramesh Chand from NZIEA, DR Sharma from AITUC, Sunita Bhagat from ASHA Union Jammu, Bawa Ram- Construction Workers Union, Kishore Kumar- State president of Kissan Tehrik, Kailash Nayak- Railway Loading & Unloading Workers Union, HD Bhomik- Industrial Estate Workers Union, Ashok Kumar- Hindustan Cocacola Workers, Jia Lal Parihar- NHPC Employees Union.
In Srinagar, hundreds of workers from different trades unions today held a massive anti-Government protests rally on the call of Centre of Indian Trade Union.
The workers from different trade unions led by Communist Party of India (M) State general secretary Mohd Yousuf Tarigami assembled at Sher-e-Kashmir Park today and staged anti-Government protests. The protesters were raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed. They slammed “anti-labour” policies of the government and threatened intensified protests.
Talking to reporters, the CPIM (M) leader and legislator said that today’s protest is against the “Modi Sarkaar” (Modi Government) and its policies.
“Modi said ‘achhe din’ (good days) are coming. But, today crores of workers are questioning Mr Modi where are those good days. They have no wages, salaries and even jobs. And, instead labour laws are being amended. The protests are being banned and all this is unacceptable to us,” Tarigami said.
He claimed that there is a country-wide strike and normal activities have come to halt. “Reports of shutdown are coming are various states. The activities have come to halt; whether it is banking sector, railways or factories…,” he said.
The trade union workers which include employees working in various schemes later marched upto Regal Chowk. The protesters were holding red flags and banners of their respective trade unions. However, police did not allow them to proceed towards Lal Chowk and resorted to baton charge.
Meanwhile, on the call given by 10 Central Trade Unions for country wide general strike, NHPC Employees Union (INTUC) Regional office Narwal, Jammu observed protest bearing black badges and holding gate meeting in NHPC Regional office complex. The workers shouted slogans against anti-labour laws amendments pursued by Central Government.
While speaking on the occasion RS.Jamwal, president of the Union said that the Govt should rollback its decision of dis-investment in PSU and in NHPC. He called upon the employees to continue their protest till the demands are agreed by the NHPC Management as per demand notice served by the apex Unions to the management.
The normal functioning at Reserve Bank of India here also came to a complete halt with the strike observed by members of RBI Employees Association and Reserve Bank Workers Union here today. The cash counters remained closed and the normal functioning at other Departments of the Bank was severely affected in the wake of 100% members of these two organisations abstaining from work on the call of their national level federations.
The members of these trade unions were protesting against the anti-worker, anti-people, pro-corporate actions of the Government. A massive gate demonstration was held outside the RBI premises at Rail Head Complex at Jammu in which the speakers said that RBI was also under serious attack. Sapan Kumar, president, RBI Workers Union, Jammu (RBWU), Raj Kumar, chief secretary, Thoru Ram, president, Reserve Bank Employees Association, Jammu (RBEA) and Aman Kumar Adgotra, secretary, RBEA also spoke on the occasion.
The employees of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Samba branch held a demonstration in protest against the management of the Corporation and the Centre Government for their apathetic approach towards settlement of wage revision and one more option for pension. The demonstration, organized under the banner of AIIEA and NZIEA, was also supported and endorsed by about ten other Trade Unions.
BSNL Employees Union of J&K observed strike and also held demonstration at all six Telecom districts across the region. They were protesting against disinvestment and privatization in public sector. In Jammu, the protest was led by District secretary Manjit Singh Reen while at Circle Headquarters Srinagar, Circle secretary Mir Nissar Ahmed was leading the workers.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) workers under the banners of FCI Staff Union and Bhartiya Khadya Nigam Karamchari Sangh State Committee, J&K held lunch hour demonstration at the Regional office here today in support of CTUs and Central Public Sector Undertakings. V K Tandon state secretary BKNK Sangh and Rupinder Singh, addl state president FCI Staff Union were leading the protest.
All Public Sector Banks employees under the banners of Jammu Province Bank Employees Federation held massive protest demonstration at Shalamar Chowk, Jammu in support of strike call given by All India Bank Employees Associations and Central Trade Unions against anti-labour and anti-employee policies of the Government.
General secretary of the Federation Arun Gupta, other trade unionists including Vijay Zutshi, Ganesh Kumar, R K Bamba, Manjit Singh, R K Bhat and T K Tickoo addressed the gathering.
Members and office bearers of Punjab National Bank Officers Association affiliated to AIBOA/AIBEA held protest demonstration in front of Area office of PNB at Srinagar today. The protest programme was held under the leadership of Ashwani Pardhan, president of the Association while V K Dutta, general secretary and Parvez Makhdoomi deputy general secretary were coordinating. The workers were shouting slogans in support of their demands.
The activists of Labour Wing of BSP led by state president BSP Tarsem Khullar and Narinder Kashyap (national general secretary) also held protest in Jammu in support of strike call of All India Trade Unions today.
Meanwhile, state National Front of Indian Trade Unions, a labour wing of NCP led by Jarnail Khokhar under the leadership of state president of NCP Th Randhir Singh in a meeting held today supported the strike call given by various Trade Unions of the country.
J&K National Trade Union Front activists led by noted trade unionist Gafoor Dar also held protest demonstration at press club in support of the demands of the workers class and wrong policies of the government. He demanded regularization of all the daily rated/ casual/ need base/ contractual/ temporary workers.
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