Make general strike on July 9 a success, leaders of All Party Trade Unions urge people

Leaders of All Party Tade Unions called upon workers and the general public to make the proposed All India general strike on July 9, a success. A meeting of the All Party Trade Unions was held at the CITU Office at Jagadamba Junction here on Tuesday.

Condemning the ‘pro-corporate’ and ‘anti-worker’ policies of the Union government, the speakers alleged that 29 labour laws were amended and four labour codes were brought out to the detriment of the workers. They said, if these labour codes were implemented, the workers would lose their right to strike, right to form a trade union and their primary right to bargain for a fair wage.

They noted that the general strike was being held to demand fixation of minimum wage for workers at ₹26,000, withdrawal of the plan to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant(VSP), taking back the 4,000 contract workers, who were terminated from service in VSP, against privatisation of public sector LIC, banks, ports and airports, oil PSUs, defence, space and mines. They also sought bringing out a comprehensive Act to provide PF, ESI and insurance to unorganised sector workers like auto drivers, muta workers, pushcart vendors and motor workers. They also demanded filling up of the vacancies in government and public sector organisations. The speakers demanded that the minimum pension for EPS pensioners be fixed at ₹9,000 and a comprehensive Act be brought out to protect the interests of domestic workers.

They said that as a run up to the general strike, from June 25 to 30, workers would distribute pamphlets at their work spots and in residential colonies to create awareness among the general public on the need to make the strike a success. Gate meetings would be held at all industries from July 1 to 4. A bike rally would be held in the city on July 5, and in the industrial area on July 7. A rally would be held from Dondaparthy to the Gandhi statue, near GVMC, where a public meeting would be held on July 9.

A poster on the All India General Strike on July 9 was released on the occasion. AITUC district president M. Manmadha Rao, INTUC district secretary Eswara Rao, CFTUI All India president N. Kanaka Rao, IFTUI State secretary M. Venkateswarlu, APFTU district secretary K. Deva, Public Sector Coordination Committee convener K.M. Srinivas, co-conveners Jyothiswara Rao and Kumara Mangalam, and AITUC senior leader Sk. Rahaman were among those who participated.