Leaders of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have appealed to the employees working in various State and Central Government organisations to participate in the ‘general strike' proposed on February 28.
Eleven trade unions including BMS, INTUC, CITU, TNTUC, AITUC, AIUTUC, LPF and other unions have called for the bandh protesting the anti-workers policies being observed by the State and Central Governments.
The union leaders who observed ‘jail bharo' in November last year have called for a bandh. The trade unions are agitating against increase in privatisation, hike in prices of essential commodities and fuel, stop contract recruitments, provide jobs security, health and life insurance for all staff, extend pension facility for all staff, implement Labour Acts unconditionally and other demands.
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The CITU Krishna district general secretary D.V. Krishna said the number of contract employees has gone up in many government companies and the managements were not implementing the Acts aimed at employees' welfare.
In some private companies, all workers were employed as daily wage or casual labour or in contract system. The managements were not providing security gadgets, first aid facility, and also not maintaining proper records and fire safety at the work spots, they alleged.
The companies owed Rs.2 crore taxes by 2011-end and the Government is not taking any steps to collect taxes from the managements. Besides, the Government has given about Rs.2 lakh crore public money as subsidies to private companies, said the union district secretary A. Kamala.
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CITU Jaggaiahpet secretary M. Srinivas said, in the last three months, prices of vegetables were increased by 26 percent, pulses 14 percent, milk 12 percent and prices of meat and fish was hiked by 13 percent.
The Government has put about Rs.775 crore burden on the people by increasing APSRTC fare and through water charges in municipalities.
Again the Government is proposing to increase power charges after the by-elections, he alleged.
He appealed to the banks, insurance, telecom and other companies, State Government employees, unorganised sector workers to participate in the strike and make it a success.
The union leaders organised rallies by sporting black badges at several places in the division to enlighten the people on the need to participate in the strike.