Date:28/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/28/stories/2006072821630300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

AITUC convention tomorrow

Special Correspondent

Procession to be taken out from Chikkalalbagh

BANGALORE: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) will hold its national convention here on Saturday to exert pressure on the State Government to change its anti-trade union and anti-labour policies.

State general secretary H.V. Ananthasubba Rao told presspersons here on Thursday that the coalition Government was anti-labour and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was not finding time to meet trade union leaders. "We have no choice than to fight the policies of the Government," he said.

The management of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had issued notices to workers against attending the convention. He appealed to the workers of the corporation to ensure that bus services were not hit. Over 15,000 delegates would attend the convention. A procession would be taken out from Chiklalbagh to Jakkarayanakere ground. AITUC leader and MP Gurudas Das Gupta, and AITUC national secretary M.C. Narasimhan would attend the convention.

Minimum wages

Mr. Rao said over 10 lakh beedi workers were being denied minimum wages in the State. The owners of beedi units were paying their workers Rs. 55 per 1,000 rolled beedies as against Rs. 82 fixed under the Minimum Wages Act.

Instead of implementing the Act, the Government had constituted a committee to look into the problems of labourers.