The Hindu : Nationwide trade union strike today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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Nationwide trade union strike today

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 20. The stage is all set for a nationwide strike by the central trade unions tomorrow to protest the economic policies of the Government. Being described as the biggest "manifestation of the indignation of the masses of the country against the anti-national and anti-people policies of the NDA Government", all public sector banks and Central Government employees have announced their decision to participate in the strike.

Addressing a press conference here today, the general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), M.K. Pandhe, said the strike would reflect the determination of the Indian working class and its fighting organisations to take the struggle to further militant heights, if the Government did not mend their "unscrupulous manner of selling national wealth for a song and ruining the entire economy to serve their promoters abroad.'' "It is just a warning and many more actions are yet to come,'' Mr. Pandhe said.

Representatives of the trade unions had on Monday met the Union Labour Minister on his invitation and made clear their decision to go ahead with the strike.

The eight-point charter of demands, wants the Centre to withdraw its decision to privatise profit-making public sector undertakings, no change in the labour laws in favour of the employers, the immediate enactment of a comprehensive legislation for agricultural labour, the widening of the social security schemes for all, including workers in the unorganised sector, and the restoration of 12 per cent interest rate on the Provident Fund deposits.

Mr. Pandhe claimed that the rank and file belonging to the Indian National Trade Union Congress and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh would defy the fiat of their national leadership and support the strike.

Besides, the major trade unions, oil and electricity, the coal and mine sector employees, public sector banks and Central Government employees have also decided to participate in the strike. Ports and docks too will not function.

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