An indefinite agitation by Group D workers employed on contract basis in various government-run residential schools at Tipu Sultan garden here was called off on Sunday, after 13 days.
Addressing a media conference at Reporters Guild, State president of Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI) R. Manasaya said that the decision was taken after the zilla panchayat administration assured them of fulfilling their demands. The employees working in Kittur Rani Channamma Residential Sainik School, Eklavya Model Residential School, Morarji Desai Residential School and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya were on strike in support of various demands, including work throughout the year and regularisation of their services.
“Forced by our agitation, the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer called a meeting of officers and discussed the issue. He also wrote to the government favouring our demands. We are calling off the strike hoping that the government would meet our demands,” Mr. Manasayya said.
Giving the administration one month to fulfil their demands, Mr. Manasayya said that the agitation would be resumed in the respective hostels if the government failed to come up with concrete initiatives towards meeting the demands. “The strike has been called off temporarily. If our demands are not fulfilled before the end of May, the workers will strike again and stage demonstrations at their workplaces. The government will be responsible for all inconveniences caused to students,” he said.
Takes objection
Mr. Manasayya condemned the Union and State governments for celebrating the International Labour Day. “The day is observed by workers of the world to mark the historic agitation in Chicago demanding eight hours duty in a day and other labour reforms. The Union and State governments are aggressively implementing anti-labour policies just to safeguard the interests of their corporate masters and hence, they have no moral right to observe May Day,” he said.
He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his attempt to dilute hard-earned labour laws to create investment-friendly atmosphere. “All the successive governments have been implementing pro-corporate policies all these years. The Modi government, however, has gone a step ahead by intensely implementing anti-labour measures. It tried to either scrap or dilute hard-earned labour laws, but gave up after stiff resistance by the working class across the country,” he said.
G. Amaresh, district president of the Association of Government and Private Hostel Workers Union, affiliated to TUCI, was present.
Strike withdrawn after ZP administration assures workers of fulfilling demands
