March to Parliament on 12th December 2013

Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 4:24 PM

AITUC Rally in Basti Jodhewal Ludhiana

Speaking on the occasion, Com. Kuldeep Singh Binder

Ludhiana: 7 December 2013: Addressing the rally of Hosiery Workers Union Regd. (AITUC) at Basti Jodhewal  Chowk today, Com D P Maur – General Secretary Joint Council of Trade Unions Ludhiana said that the Govt. is more inclined to respond to the demands of the international finance capital and the MNCs while hitting the common man hard, even denying them basic amenities like food, shelter, health and education.  Therefore there is an urgent need for the working people to unite in strength to lead the struggle against these policies so as to meet the goal of sustainable development in the interest of all the people of the country. On that score, the job insecurity and the job losses on the one hand and increased trends of  outsourcing,  contractualization and casualisation of labour is norm of the day. There is attack on unionization itself and pressure on existing unions to suppress and intimidate them to contain their activities. The government has been responsible for unprecedented rise in corruption at higher places with loss to national revenue and denial of rightful share of common people in the wealth being produced in the country. He further deplored that accumulation of wealth in the hands of few, whereas the vast majority is suffering under acute poverty and unemployment. The latest reports have indicated that 100 top rich families own assets to the tune of 16 lakh crores of rupees whereas 70% Indians are forced to live on meager spending of Rs.16.60  per day. With the policies being pursued will further hasten these gaps. 

General Secretary AITUC Ludhiana  Com O P Mehta Advocate  said that the govt. continues to act in ruthless manner against the common people and the response to people’s agitations by the Prime Minister and some of his ministers are arrogant to the core. Corruption at the higher places has become rampant which is obvious  from the scandal like 2-G Spectrum. The Gas price hike in connivance with the Ambanis will cost a loss of nearly 2.20 lakh crores to the exchequer, he highlighted.

Addressing the gathering Com Feroze Master senior leader of the Hosiery Workers Union said that the Trade Unions have decided to intensify their joint agitations and march to Parliament on 12th December 2013 on the charter of demands which includes seeking check on price rise of essential commodities, end to labour law violations, for social security and pension to all workers, abolition of any ceiling on Provident Fund, gratuity and bonus, abolition of contract labour, steady regularization of them and equal pay for equal work, no disinvestment of public sector/ govt. sector enterprises and resources, national minimum wage to be raised to not less that Rs. 10,000 universal entitlement of maternity benefit to working women etc. He further demanded that the piece rate for the cutter master should be revised or they should be given a salary of Rs.20000 for eight hours work.

Com. Ramesh Rattan said that taking advantage of this situation the rabidly communal RSS and BJP have floated Modi as their Prime ministerial candidate. This is a very serious danger before the nation which the workers have to fight back tooth and nail.

Speaking on the occasion, Com. Kuldeep Singh Binder,  Com Gurnam Singh Sidhu, Com Manjit Singh Boota, Com. Master Shafeeq, Com. Ram Partap Singh and Com. Amarnath called upon the hosiery and other workers to participate in large numbers in the march to parliament on 12th December 2013.