The May Day celebrations in Adilabad were a low-key affair on Sunday what with no trade union organising the customary rallies. The celebrations were limited to hoisting flags by only the Left trade unions.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) organised a meeting with about 100 workers at the R&B guesthouse. AITUC Adilabad district general secretary S. Vilas called for unity of workers and recounted the work done by the trade union for the betterment of the working class.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) too organised a meeting at its office near collectorate and hoisted the flag outside RIMS hospital.
CITU secretary S. Mallesh also called for unity of different working groups so as to pressurise the government into giving up anti-worker policies.
Nizamabad Special Correspondent writes: The day was celebrated by the working class by hosting red flags across the district. Rallies, meetings and flag hoisting marked the occasion. Trade unions affiliated to different political parties, including Left, ultra-Left, Centrist and right-wing parties participated in the celebrations.
At the municipal corporation office, Indian Federation of Trade Union (IFTU) State president, Vanamala Krishna, unfurled the red flag, while at the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) office in Namdevwada, union district general secretary A. Ramesh Babu, at CPI (M) office its district general secretary Dandi Venkat, and party town president M. Govardhan at the town office in Hamalwadi, hoisted the flag.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Venkat said that caste system in the country stands as a major hurdle to the unity of workers.
Ruling classes are ruling the country by driving wedge among people in the name of caste and religion, he said, and sought to remind that with the inspiration of May Day in several countries, revolutionary governments were formed.
Coming down heavily on the Modi Government, he said that it is protecting the interests of corporate houses and looters of banks.
He also said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao led TRS Government is resorting to anti-worker and anti-people policies.
The day was also celebrated at the Telangana Pradesh Beedi Workers’ Federation office.
Its president A.S. Posetty hoisted the flag.
Medak Staff Reporter adds: CITU State president Chukka Ramulu alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has failed to meet the aspirations of workers. He went on to add that the organisation would fight for their rights.
A huge rally was held at the district headquarters on Sunday in which large number of workers participated.
Support to industrialists
Addressing the workers, Mr. Ramulu said: The Union and State government have been extending support to industrialists rather than to workers. There is no response from the government to hike the minimum wage to Rs. 15,000.
As many as 52 Government Orders are pending with the government and repeated appeals failed to convince the government.
Alleging that the government has been making changes in labour laws due to which the labour numbering less than 100 and working in industries would not have any rights, Mr. Ramulu said that the CITU would fight against such laws.
He wondered why the State Government had failed to take over the Nizam Deccan Sugars Limited (NDSL) as promised during elections.
