The Salem Jilla Sumai Thookkum Thozhilalar (load men) Sangam, affiliated to the CITU, has urged the State Government to set up a separate welfare board for load men.
Identity cards
The Sangam demanded provision of identity cards to all load men and a pension of Rs. 4,000 per month to the senior load men. It has also demanded the concerned departments to do away with the contract system in the Railway goodsheds and the godowns attached to the Central and State Governments and regularise their services. All the legal provision and benefits should be extended to load men employed with the Central and State Government godowns.
The Sangam also demanded fixing minimum wages for load men taking into consideration the present prices of essential commodities.
A large number of members of the Sangam staged a demonstration pressing the above demands in the city on Saturday. Govindan, district president of the Sangam, led the agitation, while Thiyagarajan, state vice president of the CITU, and others spoke highlighting the demands.
