More than 300 activists of various trade unions were arrested when they attempted to picket the government offices in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts, pressing a ten-point charter of demands in favour of the unorganised workers in the State.
Police said about 160 trade union activists, including 35 women, were arrested when they took out a procession and attempted to picket the Labour office here and the government office in Paramakudi as part of the State-wide agitation. They demanded that the government should enhance the welfare assistance to the workers in the unorganised sector.
At the headquarters here, 82 activists led by Labour Progressive Front (LPF) District Secretary N. Malaikannu, CITU District president R Guruvel and AITUC District secretary S.P.Radha courted arrest. In Paramakudi, 79 activists, including three women, led by CITU District secretary M.Sivaji were arrested when they took out a procession from the bus stand, police said.
In Sivaganga district, 153 trade union activists, including 16 women, were arrested when they attempted to picket venues in Sivaganga and Karaikudi, defying police orders, sources said. AITUC leaders Rathinam and Kannan were among those arrested, police said.
The arrested were released in the evening, police added.
