JAMMU: As a part of nationwide call for strike on Friday, by the Central Trade Unions, National Industrial Federations and Employees’ Organisations on 12-point charter of demands on the issues confronting the working class, J and K CITU organised a huge rally of workers from various sectors including Public Sector Undertakings, ASHA workers, Nirman Mazdoor Union, Railway Loading and Unloading Workers Union, industrial workers and unorganised sector workers.
Holding CITU flags, banners and placards, shouting slogans in favour of their genuine demands, the rally marched from Press Club Jammu to Indra Chowk after passing through Jewel Chowk, Gummat and Bus Stand.
While addressing the protesting workers, M.Y Tarigami, President, J and K CITU, said that the Central Government has been desperately moving ahead for mega strategic sale of huge national assets of PSUs, anti-working class labour reforms, un-relenting rise of prices of all essential commodities, wide-spread contractualisation dismantling existing social security system like EPF and ESI, cuttings in social security coverage, ignoring pension scheme, non-implementation of labour law as well as weakening of law enforcement machinery and non-implementation of minimum wages of Rs. 18,000 per month.
The neo-liberal economic policies being implemented by the government have broken the back of the working class and marginalised sections of the society, he said.
Pawan Gupta, Divisional Secretary NZIEA, Daleep Koul, General Secretary, General Insurance Employees Association opposed the move of the NDA-led Central Government in respect of FDI and disinvestment of insurance sector. Daleep Koul also urged the merger of four General Insurance Companies into a single corporation alike LIC of India.
Among others Raj Kumar, Co-convenor J and K Nirman Mazdoor Union, Ramesh Chand, Secretary Nirman Mazdoor Union, Jammu, Sunita Bagat, State General Secretary ASHA Workers Union, Kailash Naik, General Secretary, Railway Loading and Unloading Union, H.D Bhomick, President Industrial Workers Union and Ashok Kumar, President Hindustan Coca Cola Workers Union also addressed the rally.
Meanwhile, on the call of 10 Central Trade Unions for country wide general strike, NHPC Employees Union (INTUC) and NHPC Workers Union Regional Office Narwal, Jammu also staged a demonstration by wearing black badges and holding gate meeting in front of NHPC Regional Office Complex.