Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 1: Many trade unions organized rallies and paid their tributes to the martyrs of May Day across the region today.
May Ist is observed as International Workers’ Day, to commemorate the supreme sacrifices made by the workers in Chicago (USA) in 1886 demanding 8 hour work in a day for the labour class. National Holiday is observed in more than 80 countries across the world on this day. Thousands of agitating workers were fired upon by police at Haymarket at Chicago in which many of them sacrificed their lives for the cause of workers’ class.
Centre of Indian Trade Unions organized a rally to observe International Workers’ Day, under the banner of CITU (J&K) here today and a large number of workers of CITU from United School Teachers Association, Kissan Tehreek, ASHA, All India Insurance Employees Association, Railways Loading and Unloading Workers Union and Bank Employees Federation of India participated. Several senior trade unionists including Banarasi Dass, Hari Singh, Kishore Kumar, Dilip Koul and others addressed the rally and projected issues of the working class. They projected demand to control the price hike, stop disinvestment of Public Sector, to correct the public distribution system, fix minimum wages as Rs 10,000 per month, withdraw new pension scheme and implement Labour Laws strictly.
The workers of AITUC (J&K) including NHPC Workers Union, Joint Employees Front, NHPC Regular Employees Association, NHPC Drivers Cleaners Union, NHPC Dul Hasti Power Station Workers Union, Pakal Dul HE Project Workers Union and Burser HE Project Workers Union and several other workers’ bodies organized massive rally from Bus Stand Kishtwar to Shahidi Chowk Kishtwar today. They paid rich tributes to the comrades of working class who laid down their lives on May I, 1886 in Chicago city of America. Several senior trade unionists including Suresh Kumar Sharma, S K Sharma, Ishtiaq Ahmed Malik, Vinod Parihar and others addressed the gathering.
PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz assured the artisans, copper and shawl workers besides construction workers of Kashmir to mitigate their demands in a rally held today. He was addressing a large May Day rally of workers and said that Government was aware of the burning issues of the workers and it was committed for the resolution as well. The rally was organized at a park near Aali Masjid in Srinagar. Bashir Magray, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Khem Lata Wakhloo also accompanied.
Minister for Planning and Labour Ajay Sadhotra while addressing a rally organized by Central Labour Union leader Nar Singh at N C Bhawan here said that labour class was the back bone of the society and Government was committed for their welfare and addressing their genuine issues. He said the minimum wages of the workers have been enhanced to Rs 150 per day by the Government and more welfare measures are being taken by the Government.
The gathering paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Chicago. MLA Kalakote Rashpal Singh, senior leaders of the party Rattan Lal Gupta and Rampal were also present.
Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Lal Sharma while addressing May Day rally at Akhnoor today said that Government was aware of workers’ issues. A large number of PHE, Flood Control and Irrigation workers besides members of labour class attended the programme. The Minister said that Government will ensure regular and timely disbursement of wages to the workers of his department. He said the Government will also explore the possibilities to regularise the daily wagers engaged after 2005. INTUC leader Shiv Kumar Sharma also addressed the workers and projected their issues.
International Labour Day was also observed by NPP and a large rally was organized at Udhampur today. State president of NPP Balwant Singh Mankotia addressed the gathering and projected issues of the workers class. He alleged that workers were facing exploitation and the Government was not serious in mitigating their issues. Another function was held at party office Gandhi Nagar under the leadership of general secretary Anita Thakur.
At Rajouri, a large rally was taken out by the workers from various departments under the leadership of senior trade unionist Gafoor Dar, president J&K National Trade Union Front. The rally started from PHE complex and culminated at DC Office. Mr Dar raised the issues of workers and criticized the Government for ignoring their genuine demands.
Jammu Province Bank Employees Federation observed May Day at Oriental Bank of Commerce branch Raghunath Bazar here today. A meeting was held in which the members paid tributes to the martyrs of Chicago. Arun Kumar Gupta, Ashwani Pardan, Manjit Singh and Mr Bamba addressed the gathering.
Under the banner of Indian Trade Union Congress a large May Day rally was taken out in Udhampur town under the leadership of trade unionist Som Nath. The workers from PHE, I&FC besides other wings, assembled at PHE complex and then moved towards city. After passing through various markets it then culminated at Barian. A large number of workers from various tehsils and blocks of the district attended the programme.
Vishavkarma Dogra Labour Workers Union led by Kuldip Raj Chalotra organized May Day function at Muthi in which president JKDF, Arun Gupta was the chief guest. They addressed large number of workers and paid tributes to the martyrs of May Day.
Village Level Workers Association and Rural Development Employees Federation held a convention at Gujar Charitable Trust here in connection with the May Day. Rameshwar Parsad Pandey working president of All India Gram Sevak and Gram Sevika Federation was the chief guest and Sohan Dara guest of honour. Anirudh Singh State general secretary organized the programme. The gathering paid tributes to martyrs and projected the issues of the RDD/ Panchayat Level workers and stressed the need to resolve the same.
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