Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 2: To condemn the lathicharge on striking workers of Leighton Company at Nashri Ramban, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest demonstration in front of Divisional Commissioner’s office here today.
The demonstration was led by Sham Parsad Kesar senior leader CITU and Om Parkash its general secretary. A large number of CITU activists participated in the demonstration and demanded restoration of rights to Leighton workers immediately.
With banners and flags in their hands, the protestors were raising slogans against the lathicharge, crackdown and arrest of workers yesterday and termed it undemocratic and unlawful activity of the Government.
“The Government can’t suppress the voice of working class who is backbone of country’s progress’’ said Mr Kesar and Mr Parkash while addressing the protestors.
They said that the workers were terminated over a year back by the company illegally and were forced to work for 12 hours without any compensation for extra hours of work. Further the management ignored the local workers, did not recognize the local Union for negotiations and did not allow the workers for gate meetings etc, they added.
The CITU leaders said that the Leighton Company exploited the workers by providing them paltry wages, forced them to work for extra hours. Instead of intervening and prevailing upon the Leighton to sort out the burning issues of termination, working hours and wages with concerned Workers Union, it has been patronizing the company.
Others who addressed the demonstration included Shiv Kumar Sharma, president INTUC, N K Dogra, president AITUC, Harbans Choudhary senior leader BMS, Pawan Kumar Gupta, president North Zone Insurance Employees Association, Hari Singh president United School Teachers Association, Ram Kumar Sharma, senior leader EJAC and Anil Vaid Bank Employees Federation of India. They all expressed solidarity with workers and condemned the anti workers attitude of the Government.
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