Trade unions’ strike peaceful

Ongole: The first day of the nationwide two-day strike organized by the trade unions and workers organizations went on peaceful in Prakasam district on Tuesday.

The district level leaders and members of the AITUC, CITU, APSRTC EU, AP Medical and Sales Representatives Union, Indian Federation of Trade Unions, Arunodaya, POW, AP non-gazetted officers association and other small and medium scale industries associations came to the district collectorate as a rally and demonstrated how the decisions of the Central government were hurting the small and medium scale industries and workers in them, but helping the corporate companies.

The Prakasam district JAC leaders Bandi Srinivasa Rao, Sarath and other trade unions leaders said that the demonetization by the Union government had helped the corporate companies but closed down many small and medium companies. 

They also alleged that the GST also served a huge blow to many companies and were unable to recover even now. They demanded for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment to give equal pay to equal work and also regularize the contract and outsourcing employees. 

They also demanded that the government cancel the CPS and give interim relief of 35 percent along with the announcement of 3 pending DAs. 

They also demanded that the government implement minimum salary of Rs 26000 per month and drop the idea of amending the labour laws. 

They opposed the proposals to privatize the public sector units like LIC. They questioned the government how a PSU like LIC, which is top most profit earning company can be sold to foreign investors.

A number of workers and members of unions joined the protests at Ongole, Chirala, Singarayakonda, Markapur, Giddalur and other places to express solidarity to others and demanded immediate resolution to their long pending demands.