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May Day

Labour rights talk of the town

LUDHIANA: Various rallies and functions were held in different parts of the city in the memory of Chicago martyrs on the occasion of May Day here today.

Labour rights talk of the town

A rally organised by the Northern Railway Men’s Union to mark May Day. Photo: Inderjeet Verma



Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 1

Various rallies and functions were held in different parts of the city in the memory of Chicago martyrs on the occasion of May Day here today.

Flag hoisted at PAU

Punjab Agricultural University Employees’ Union along with PAU Teachers’ Association, PAU Class IV Workers’ Union and Contract and DPL Workers’ Union of PAU celebrated May Day in front of the Union office, where a large number of employees were present.

President of PAU Employees’ Union Baldev Singh Walia and DP Maur, well-known trade unionist hoisted a flag in the memory of Chicago martyrs. Walia said in the times of capitalism, the working/ labour class were exploited, labourers were forced to face conditions like job loss, low wages and prolonged working hours.

The day is celebrated all over the world in the memory of those labourers, who lost their lives in Chicago. On this day, oath is taken to fight for the protection of labour rights and end capitalism.

General Secretary of PAU Employees’ Union Manmohan Singh said: “Minimum wages are not being paid; employees are burdened with extra work due to non-filling of vacant posts, contract system is being imposed in India. Apart from this, the government is working on the laws which are against labourers/ working class and is in favour of corporate sector, the Government organisations are being privatised.”

Fix working hours: NRMU

Meanwhile members of Northern Railway Men’s Union (NRMU) also organised a rally at the railway station. Daljit Singh, divisional secretary, said the railways was giving compulsory retirement to nearly 4 lakh employees and sending them home which was not fair. He said working hours should be fixed and employees should be given all benefits they are entitled to.

AITUCrally at MC Office

Bant Brar, President All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Punjab, while addressing a rally to pay homage to those, who laid down their lives for the cause of working class on May 1, said: “After having failed to meet the promises, the Modi government is out to divide people on communal lines and pushing India to medieval period and ideology. It is time workers come forward to defend their rights and secularism and democracy of our country.”

To highlight the problems being faced by workers in India, a rally was organised by AITUC, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Ludhiana, and Corporation employees on the MC premises.

“There is a subtle move by the government to close down public sector units. They have already decided to close the pharmaceutical PSUs in the Cabinet meeting on December 28 and have now decided to close more units. There are 76 such units listed for closure. This will erode the infrastructure of the country and sell nation’s resources to local and foreign MNCs,” he said.

DP Maur, General Secretary, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Ludhiana, said the working class waged relentless struggle to get the rights due to them, which had been denied since ages. These include eight hours’ duty, job security, right to form unions, minimum wages, Provident Fund, Medical facilities, retirement benefits and regular revision of wages as per the price index.

Vijay Kumar, corporation workers’ leader, said employees and workers have to do 12 hours’ duty even in banking sectors among others, adding that multinational corporations were eating away the small scale industries. The government instead of giving respite to the small scale sector was withdrawing facilities already available to them. The condition of safai karamcharis was pathetic, he said.

Honour for writer 

Doraha: Baldev Singh Saraknama, who has worked towards the emancipation of working class through his celebrated writings, was honoured by the Panjab Lok Sabhyacharak Manch at Guru Nanak Bhawan on Monday night. The programme, which is dedicated to the 100 years of Russian revolution, continued all night. Amolak Singh, President of PLS, said it has been 35 years that the Manch was continuously celebrating International Labour Day.  "Six plays focusing on the fact that workers have to be bold enough to fight for their rights will be enacted. Dr Navsharan and Dr Atul along with prominent thinker Himanshu Kumar will be the special guest," said Amolak Singh.  "There should be somebody to speak for this section of society. They have an integral role to play. If their conditions continue to be the same, transformation cannot be dreamt of," he said. Amolak Singh said Sahitya Akademi Award Winner Baldev Singh Sakarnama will be especially honoured. "Sadarnama has penned 50 books so far, of which his books - Red Light, Anndata, Satluj Vehnda Riha and Panjwan Sahibzada have received tremendous applause. He writes with a passion and concern for Punjabi language and is completed devoted towards his work. PLS is honouring him for his commitment and concern for social issues ailing the society."  Prof Gurbhajan Gill congratulated Baldev Singh Saraknama and said: "May Day should not be considered as just another day, but a day on which we should definitely work towards the improvement in working condition, health and hygiene of the labour class. According basic facilities to those who work for the entire day and still find it difficult to make their both ends meet is our primary duty as responsible citizens." - Lovleen Bains

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