Karimnagar: Workers urged to fight for their rights

Karimnagar: Drawing inspiration from May Day, workers must strive to resolve their issues and fight for their rights, said senior leader and district vice-president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Geetla Mukunda Reddy.

The CITU members took out a massive rally to mark May Day, from Kalabharati in Karimnagar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mukunda Reddy said that several workers sacrificed their lives fighting for the right of eight-hour duty. However, both the state and the Central governments failed to implement it.

Under the rule of the NDA government unemployment has increased from 2 per cent to 6 per cent. There is no job security for workers and employees working in various sectors due to the new reform called ‘fixed term employment’ introduced by the Central government.

In addition the Central government also introduced ‘Insurance dependent system (Adaritha Vidhanam) where workers derive benefits with the implementation of job and social security, right to get wages and right to work, he claimed.

Mr Mukunda Reddy alleged that even after the Supreme Court verdict on minimum salary of `18,000 per month, the government has not implemented the order.

The management of many granite companies, shopping malls, automobile and kirana stores in Karimnagar force their employees to work for 12 to 14 hours a day.

On several occasions, representatives have requested the Karimnagar municipal officials to sanction the wages as per G.O No.14 for the workers in the villages that were merged recently under corporation limits.

But the officials have not responded, he added.

Mr Mukunda Reddy demanded that the government establish a Wage Board immediately for workers working in various sectors and sanction `6,000 pension for workers who have crossed 60 years along with strictly implementing eight-hour duty.

CITU leaders B. Shekar, U. Srinivas, A. Ramesh, K. Venu Gopal, P. Murali, Rajamallu, Rajaiah, Sharada, Sarala, Shankaramma, Nagabushanam, Ramesh, Narasimha Reddy, Ram Moham, Sammaiah, Ravi, Srinivas and Malla Reddy were present along with others.

In Nizamabad and Kamareddy district hundreds of workers participated in the celebrations. Trade union leaders hoisted flags and workers took out processions along with banners and placards at various places in both the districts. 'May Day vardillali', 'Awaz hum ek hai' slogans were raised by the workers.

Citu, Aictu and other trade unions took part in the celebrations. In Nizamabad, May Day celebrations were witnessed at the Government General Hospital and the municipal corporation.