Trade union strike gets good response in coastal region
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal / Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Feb 20: As part of the two-day nationwide strike against price hike of commodities and other labour issues, various workers and labour associations in Mangalore held a major protest in front of the DC Office here on Wednesday February 20 at 10 am.
Addressing the gathering, CPI (M) leader B Madava said that, "The 48 hour long nationwide bandh organized called trade unions has seen a successful start. The bandh has also been successful in the Dakshina Kannada district."
"Large number of bank workers, government and private firm workers have joined together this day for this protest, which itself marks the success. The UPA government has been continuously increasing the price of essential commodities, making it highly difficult for the poor to lead their daily life," he added.
"Price hike is not just a problem of the labour sector, but for each and every individual, hence this bandh has grabbed good support from all the sectors," he said.
"Nearly 6 crore tonnes of rice and wheat are spolit and the sacks are filled with rats and others pests. The Supreme Court has also ordered to distribute the rice to the people for free, but the order has been neglected by the administrative bodies. There is no shortage of rice in the country, but the price of rice has been hiked in the recent days."
Madhava said, "The union minister for oil and natural gas Veerappa Moily has stated that the petroleum companies have been asked to increase the diesel price by 40 paise every month. Earlier the price hike was once or twice in a year. But now it has come to a stage where the prices are being hike every month.
"The basic rights of the labourers have been snatched away and there is immediate need to take steps to uphold and protect the basic rights of the labourers," he said.
"The central government needs to take strict action and steps to prevent and protect the general public from price hike, failing which, major protests would be carried out in the future, which will also include a bandh for four to five days as well," he warned.
"The IT sector is suffering a total loss of Rs 20,000 crore due to the 48 hour bandh, but this is nothing when compared to the 2G spectrum scam of Rs 1,76,000 crore and Rs 1,80,000 crore of coal scam," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, BMS leader Narayan Shetty said, "The bandh has been successful in the first stage. It is good to know that almost all the trade unions and labour associations have joined hands in this nationwide protest.
"The money paid as tax has been misused at an alarming rate. And this is the right time to wake up from the slumber and protest against these issues of price hike and general problems," he said.
Leaders of other associations also spoke on the occasion and expressed their views and thoughts regarding the protest.
Members of associations like CITU, BMS, AIUTUC, INTUC, HMS, AITUC, AICCTU, JCTU, LPF, Bank and LIC employees associations, Airport workers association and others took part in the protest in large numbers.
Udupi
Bhatkal
Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network – Bhatkal (VM)
Bhatkal, Feb 20: In the wake of nationwide strike called by all the central trade unions on February 20 and 21, auto rickshaws and buses came to a standstill here on Wednesday February 20.
Shops and other business establishments and schools and colleges remained open, but far away students especially from Shiroor, Byndoor, Kundapur, Murdeshwer, Manki, Honnavar and Kumta were not able to attend as bus services had stopped.
As part of the strike, Bhatkal Auto Rickshaw union and Murdeshwer Auto Rickshaw Union led by CITU held a protest and a rally was held from Bhatkal old bus stand.
A memorandum was also submitted to the Bhatkal assistant VRP Manohar.
The memorandum consisted of 10 main demands along with others. They are - to stabilize the prices of commodities and thus save the common man; implement package to create employment; implement strict labour laws; grant social security to labourers; cancel FDI; pension to auto drivers above 60 years and so on.
The auto drivers also demanded the officials to setup an LPG pump in Bhatkal. There are around 2,000 autos running in Bhatkal out of which 75% of the rickshaws have petrol and LPG permission, said the drivers.
Bhatkal Auto Rickshaw Union president Venkatesh Naik, secretary Nagraj Shetty, Venkatesh Naik, Murdeshwer Auto Rickshaw president Ishwar Naik, Mohammed Hassan and a large number of auto drivers were part of the protest.