CITU district conference passes resolution against privatisation of municipal body works

Making the jobs of co-operative society workers permanent, implementation of old pension scheme and cancellation of Government Orders for privatising municipal body works were among the few key resolutions passed during the 11^th Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) Madurai district conference held here on Sunday.  

The resolution on making the jobs of co-operative society workers permanent also said that employees working on a temporary basis for many years should be declared permanent with no further delay. In addition, those who had completed 480 days of work and those working on deputation should also be made permanent.  

Taking into consideration the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation workers’ prolonged protest in Madurai, the resolution said the old pension scheme should be immediately implemented for transport employees who had joined service after April 1, 2003. 

Expressing the Union’s condemnation of privatising the municipal body works and workers, it pointed out that “the privatisation of works in city corporations, municipalities, and town panchayats should be abandoned, and GOs 152, 139, and 10 facilitating the outsourcing should be cancelled.” 

Regarding the constitution and functioning of the construction workers welfare board, the resolution stated that the welfare board funds should be used for the benefit of workers. “A monthly pension of ₹3,000, pension for women after 55 years of age, marriage assistance of ₹50,000, and accident death assistance of ₹10 lakhs should be granted. Hospitals should be established in every district to provide quality treatment to the workers,” it added.  

Further, the resolution vouched for fixing the working hours for limiting the working time to eight hours. “Those employers who violate the working hours should be penalised. Workers should be included in ESI and PF schemes.” 

The conference also called for ensuring respect for street vendors, auto drivers, and all workers. “The corporation and the police in the name of law are disrespecting, harassing and abusing the workers and street-vendors. Without prior notice, the corporation and police disturb businesses and damage their properties,” the resolution noted.  

Earlier, senior CITU leader A.K. Padmanabhan told the gathering that workers under the CITU banner should take up issues pertaining to not just the welfare of workers but the entire humankind. 

“Of the several international matters like American President Donald Trump imposing tariff on India, the war between Russia and Ukraine and Israel committing genocide against Palestinians, among others, the most affected would be the working class,” he said.  

In the modern digital era, workers armed with mobile phones should be confident about speaking and standing up against injustices committed in any part of the world, he added.  

The conference, which coincided with September 1, the day declared to oppose imperialism and fascism, would also take a stand against those misusing the power, he noted.  

“India as a country, both pre- and post-Independence stood for the freedom of the world. It did not shy away from voicing out its opinion against the fascist governments,” he added.  

Tracking the ‘path of deterioration’ that India had taken, he said the country which once stood and spoke for the freedom of countries like China, Vietnam, Korea, Cuba, among others, has stooped down to the level of suppressing its own people.  

The conference unanimously declared M. Balasubramanian as its district president, R. Lenin as secretary and J. Lourde Ruby as treasurer.