INTUC against disinvestment of public sector units

INTUC against disinvestment of public sector units

Kolkata, Oct 27 (PTI) Opposing disinvestment of profit-making public sector units, Congress-affiliated trade union INTUC today questioned why Coal India was disinvested.

"We are against disinvestment of profit-making public sector units. If the government wants to disinvest PSUs making loss there is no problem, but profit-making companies should be kept away," INTUC national president G Sanjeeva Reddy told a press conference here.

Stating that coal is a profit-making sector, he asked why disinvestment was made there. "I have spoken to the Prime Minister on this and he has agreed in principle that disinvestment should not be made in profit-making public sector units."

Regarding Coal India, the Prime Minister told him that government had sold only out 10 per cent share and it would not be increased further, Reddy said



Source: PTI

Major trade unions to hold march to Parliament on Feb 23

Major trade unions to hold march to Parliament on Feb 23

Major trade unions barring BJP-affiliate BMS today decided to hold a march to Parliament ahead of the Budget session next year to protest Government's "inaction" in checking price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of profitable PSUs.

The march would be organised on February 23 next year.

At a meeting chaired by INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy, top trade union leaders decided to "further intensify their movement" as the Government had not taken "any steps to resolve the demands of the people and workers," AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta told PTI.

He said the meeting congratulated the working class for the "historic" general strike on September 7 to press for Government action in arresting inflation, disinvestment of PSUs and to check violation of labour laws.



Source: PTI

Eight trade unions backing call for strike tomorrow

Eight trade unions backing call for strike tomorrow

Government employees and many of those working in the private sector will go on a one-day countrywide general strike on Tuesday under the banner of eight major trade unions including Congress-affiliated INTUC against price rise, violation of labour laws and disinvestment of PSUs.

"Nearly six crore workers will participate in the strike across the country. Those employed in private sector will also join the strike in many places," AITUC general secretary and CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta told a news agency in New Delhi on Monday.

AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC and federations of different categories of workers and employees will participate in the general strike, which has been called by Coordination Committee of Central Trade Unions headed by INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy, he said.

"This is going to be biggest strike that ever happened in recent years in this country as after 63 years all the trade unions have come together on a common platform," Dasgupta claimed.

All the "branches of economy" will be affected due to strike as workers from sectors including coal, power, telecom, banks, insurance, defence, port and dock, road transport, petroleum and construction will join the call, he said.

Trade unions earlier had drawn up a five-point charter "asking the government to curb the price rise but nothing was done," he charged.

"The trade unions have been agitating against disinvestment of public sector. They (trade unions) are angry because labour laws are being violated," he said.

Trade unions want massive investment for social security for unorganised labourers. "We are also protesting job loss and contractualisation of jobs in the country," he added.

Dasgupta said that the strike will not be the "last thing". If the situation does not improve, workers will march to Parliament in February next year.

"Trade unions can not be marginalised. They must be heard.We want social justice, reasonable share of the wealth workers produce. That's all," he added.

BJP-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), however, has kept itself away from the strike call.

"BMS is not participating in the strike as it is politically motivated and not for the welfare of workers," vice president of Delhi unit of the union Kiran Dutta said. (RBY-06/09)

Source: DDI News

Industrial strike to have a large impact: AITUC

Industrial strike to have a large impact: AITUC

Kolkata, Sep 1 (PTI) The September 7 industrial strike called by major trade unions would have a strong impact all over the country, AITUC General Secretray Gurudas Dasgupta said today.

"We believe that this will be the biggest bandh in recent tiems and the impact of the bandh will be felt all over the country," Dasgupta told a press conference at the AITUC office here.

"This is a strike against the price hike and the violation of labour laws all over the country," he said.

"This is for the first time we have been successful in bringing all the major trade unions, including INTUC together and they will also participate in the strike," Dasgupta claimed.

"Though BMS (the trade union wing of BJP) is not actively participating in the strike, they have not opposed it either," Dasgupta added.

Source: PTI

INTUC not to participate in Sept 7 nationwide strike

INTUC not to participate in Sept 7 nationwide strike

Hyderabad, Sep 1 (PTI) Indian National Trade Union Congress members will not participate in the proposed nation-wide general strike called by central trade unions on September 7, INTUC president Ambati Krishnamurthy said here today.

A decision to not participate in the proposed general strike was taken in the national executive meeting of INTUC held in the first week of August at Delhi, he told reporters here.

The general strike has been called by rival unions to destabilise the UPA government, he said.

Central trade unions and workers and employees Federations have called the strike on September 7 protesting the rise in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

Source: PTI

Plea for national minimum wage - Indian National Trade Union Congress

INTUC today demanded proper implementation of labour laws in the country and asked the Centre to fix a national minimum wage.

National minimum wage should be fixed by the Central government and it should not be left to the state governments to decide, INTUC national president G Sanjeeva Reddy told reporters here. The national minimum wage should be the benchmark on which wages are fixed, he said.

Alleging that the central, state PSUs and private sector units were converting permanent employees into contract workers, he said doors were being opened for contract workers.

"We will press government to prohibit contract system."

Contract workers should be paid on a par with permanent workers, he said, adding it should be equal pay for equal work.
Source:PTI