Workers pledge to fight for their rights on May Day : The Tribune India

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Workers pledge to fight for their rights on May Day

LUDHIANA: May Day was marked by events, organised by various unions, across the city on Tuesday.

Workers pledge to fight for their rights on May Day

A worker toils hard on a hot afternoon at a building site in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Photo: Ashwani Dhiman



Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 1

May Day was marked by events, organised by various unions, across the city on Tuesday.

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Employees’ Union, along with the PAU Forth Class Workers’ Union, celebrated May Day. Baldev Singh Walia, president of PAU employees’ union, and DP Maur, a trade unionist, hoisted the flag in the memory of Chicago martyrs. Dr Gulzar Pandher, former General Secretary of the PAU Employees’ Union, was present.

The history

Walia, while addressing the gathering, said: “In the times of capitalism, the working/ labour class were exploited. They were forced to face atrocities such as low wages and prolonged working hours. In the wake of this scenario, it was decided over the world that the number of work hours should be fixed at eight.”

With regard to the history of May Day, he said in Chicago (a city of America), a movement was started on May 1, 1886. On May 4, 1886, a huge peaceful rally was organised, but the police opened fire and more than four persons died and a large number of persons were injured. He said the government trailed labourers, seven persons were pronounced death sentence and one was awarded imprisonment for 15 years. This day is celebrated across the world in the memory of those labourers who lost their lives in Chicago. On this day, they take oath to fight for the protection of their rights and to bring capitalism to an end.

DP Maur said every country —developed, developing or third world country — celebrates the day.

Manmohan Singh, General Secretary of PAU Employees Union, said the number of unemployed have crossed 10 crore due to the “anti-labourer-employees-farmer” policies of the government. “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 Government is working on the laws which are against labourer/ working class and in favour of the corporate sector,” he said.

By the implementation of Code of Wages Bill 2017, wage revisions will be stopped, wages will be paid on hourly basis instead of daily wage, by outsourcing of the work the government jobs will virtually come to an end and DA freeze will affect the workers, employees and pensioners, said DP Maur, Vice-President, AITUC Punjab, and General Secretary of the Joint Council of Trade Unions.

He said the workers will continue to struggle for their rights and oppose the biased policies of the BJP government.

‘BJP trying to divide society on communal lines’

Dr Arun Mitra said having failed to fulfil the promises made during the 2014 elections for two crore jobs very year, the RSS-BJP are now trying to divide the society on communal and caste lines to garner votes.

Kathua incident condemned

The day was also celebrated by the Northern Railway Men’s Union outside the Railway Station. Mangal Ram Pasla, Vice-President of the CITU, condemned the Kathua incident. He said the rising inflation in the country is making the life of the common man very tough. “Government should take steps to control inflation and labour laws should be implemented strictly,” he added. A play was also enacted on the occasion.

The day was also celebrated by the Moulder and Steel Workers Union at the Industrial Area B and tributes were paid to the martyrs.

Meanwhile, ‘ICanGuide’ Founder Surinder Gupta was presented “Karam-Shree” award by the ‘International Samrasta Manch’ in a function organised in Delhi to mark International Labour Day.

Justice Parmananad Jha, First Vice-President of Nepal, gave away the award. Dr Surendra Gupta was chosen for his dedicated work against cancer/ diabetes/ hypertension/ tuberculosis/ HIV-AIDS/ drug abuse and save-organ campaign.

Gupta, serving the community since 40 years in Ludhiana as a physician, has organised more than 234 free camps for detection of diabetes and hypertension in and around Ludhiana.

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