Latest news with #JointCommitteeofTradeUnions
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Labour unions in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi stage protests opposing Centre's labour policies
Responding to a call by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), trade unions in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi staged protests as part of a nationwide general strike against the Union government's labour policies and privatisation push. The unions demanded the withdrawal of four labour codes, halting the privatisation of public sector undertakings such as insurance, banking and railways and the rollback of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. They demanded the regularisation of ASHAs, anganwadi and mid-day meal workers as government employees, the abolition of the contract system, the fixing of minimum wages at ₹36,000, the implementation of an eight-hour workday, a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, and curbing inflation. A procession was taken out from Ambedkar Circle to the Clock Tower in Mangaluru. Addressing the protesters at the Clock Tower, near Mini Vidhana Soudha, Sunil Kumar Bajal, general secretary, CITU, Dakshina Kannada, alleged that the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is protecting only the interests of corporate bodies. The Union government has neutralised the spirit and aspirations of labour laws, he alleged. The AITUC's Dakshina Kannada district general secretary, Seetharama Berinja, said that labourers should not be looked down upon. Labourers should be given social security and pension benefits, he said. Protests in Udupi A procession was taken out from the City Bus Stand in Udupi to the Head Post Office. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was submitted to the Superintendent of Posts. Speaking on the occasion, Balakrishna Shetty, CITU State vice-president, said that by pushing the four labour codes, the Union government is dismantling the existing protection for workers, including rights related to working hours, wages, social security, unionisation, collective bargaining and protest. Protests were held in Kundapur and Byndoor.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Thousands of workers protest, production in industries affected in Bengaluru
The nationwide strike called by the central trade unions on Wednesday affected production in industries across sectors as workers sat on protest at various centres across the city. However, daily life was almost unaffected by the strike, as transport services operated as usual in Bengaluru, despite some transport unions supporting the strike call. According to the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU), about 8,000 workers arrived at Freedom Park, where a protest meeting was organised. The workers from engineering, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and aerospace industries, among others, participated. 'Production came to a complete halt in several industries in the city as workers held a gate meeting before leaving to the protest site,' a source in JCTU said. A memorandum detailing the workers' demand was also submitted to the government. The JCTU urged immediate implementation of the draft minimum wages already notified by vacating the stay ordered by the court. Urging scrapping of the four industrial codes, the JCTU said that maximum working hours daily should be capped at eight hours and proposed an amendment to Section 24 of the Factories Act and Shops and Establishment Act that involves safety measures for working class, should be withdrawn.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hundreds take out march, stage protest in several districts as part of nation-wide strike
Hundreds of members of various trade unions took out protest marches and staged demonstrations in various district headquarters and major towns and cities in Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada and Davangere on Wednesday in response to a call for a nation-wide agitation given by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions. Under the aegis of JCTU, employees of various government departments, banks, insurance companies, regional rural banks, workers of construction and various other industries, anganwadi workers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and farmers took part in the agitation to highlight various demands pertaining to the working class. In Dharwad, the protest march was taken out from Kalabhavan to the Deputy Commissioner's office. Social activists S.R. Hiremath, G.N. Devi and others also took part in the agitation to express solidarity with the trade unions. The speakers strongly opposed the labour codes and attempts to introduce anti-labour laws through the backdoor and facilitate privatisation that will mainly benefit large corporate houses. They demanded that the labour codes be abolished and the long-pending demands of the working class be fulfilled. In Hubballi, amid rainfall, the protest march was taken out from Sangoli Rayanna Circle to Ambedkar Circle where a huge protest meeting was organised. Addressing the protestors, trade union leaders Mahesh Pattar, Gangadhar Badiger, R.F. Kavalikai, Stephen Jayachandra, Gurusiddappa Ambiger, Channamma Dolli and several others condemned the anti-labour policies of the Union government in strong terms. The speakers demanded abolition of the four labour codes and also urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Labour Minister Santosh Lad to announce that they will not allow the implementation of the labour codes in the State. In Haveri, braving the rainfall, the protestors took out a protest march from Murugharajendra Mutt to Hosamani Siddappa Circle where they formed a human chain to register their protest against the Union government. Subsequently, a protest meeting was held at the same venue and a memorandum containing the long-pending demands was submitted to the taluk officials. Addressing the protestors, DYFI State secretary Basavaraj Pujar demanded the immediate abolition of the four labour codes. He also demanded minimum wages of ₹36,000 for workers. He said that the labour codes will push the workers towards slavery. CITU convenor Andaneppa Hebasur, Jagadish Koti, Basavaraj S., Chaitra S.K. and others addressed the protestors and demanded fulfilment of their long-pending demands.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Trade unions take out rally in Ballari, demand rollback of labour codes
The Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) of Ballari took out a rally from Gandhi Bhavan to the Deputy Commissioner's office in that city on Wednesday, as part of a nation-wide protest against the Centre's labour policies and privatisation push. The agitating activists demanded the withdrawal of the four labour codes, halting of privatisation of public sector undertakings such as insurance, banking and railways and rolling back of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. The protest also called for the regularisation of ASHAs, anganwadi and mid-day meal workers as government employees, abolition of the contract system, fixing of minimum wages at ₹36,000, implementation of an eight-hour workday, legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and curbing inflation. Following the rally, a protest meeting was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office. Leaders from various trade unions and mass organisations, including K. Somashekar (State AITUC president), J. Satyababu ( CITU district president), H.A. Adimurthy (AITUC district president) and representatives from insurance, banking, ASHAs, anganwadi, mid-day meal workers unions and farmers associations, addressed the gathering. In their speeches, the union leaders criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for what they termed 'anti-worker' and 'pro-corporate' policies. They said that by pushing the four labour codes, the Central government is dismantling the existing protection for workers, including rights related to working hours, wages, social security, unionisation, collective bargaining and protest. While workers fighting for their rights are criminalised, corporate violators of labour laws are being encouraged in the name of ease of doing business, they said. They also criticised the Congress-led government in the State for continuing anti-farmer policies of the previous administration and for facilitating land acquisition in the name of development. Proposed amendments to the Factories Act, including lifting restrictions on night shifts and hazardous work for women, were also condemned. Speakers stressed that both Central and State governments have failed to control price rise and called for stronger, united struggles by workers and farmers to get pro-corporate policies rolled back.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Trade and farmers' unions in Dakshina Kannada to join the nationwide general strike on July 9
Various trade unions and farmers' organisations in Dakshina Kannada will join the nationwide general strike called for by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions and Samyukta Kissan Morcha, pressing for their various demands, on July 9. A procession will be taken out from Dr. B R Ambedkar (Jyothi) Circle to Clock Tower, where a protest meeting will be held, said office bearers of the trade unions. The office-bearers told reporters here on Thursday that the Central Government has codified 29 labour legislations into four Codes, thereby denying workers their right to protest or hold strikes. Labour legislation would not be applicable to over 70% of the workforce in the country with this codification that also denies the right to form associations and hold protests. The Codes also permit enhancing the work hours from 8 to 12 per day and overtime from 50 hours to 125 hours per month. Instead of paying a ₹9,000 pension to workers, the Code left the ESI and Provident Fund payment choice to the employers. Various trade Unions, including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, SEWA, LPF, and others, have called for a general strike. Their key demands include the abrogation of the four labour codes, retaining work timings of eight hours per day, job regularisation to ensure job security, and the right to form associations, all of which were under threat following the labour laws that favour corporate bodies, they said. The unions have also demanded a minimum wage of ₹26,000 across the country and ₹36,000 in Karnataka in the unorganised sector, along with the abrogation of hired or contract labour. Expressing their solidarity with the farmers who have sought pension for senior citizens among them, the trade Unions demanded that agricultural workers be paid a ₹9,000 pension a month. The nationwide strike was also an effort to get the New Pension Scheme annulled and urge the government to revert to the Old Pension Scheme. They have urged the State government to withdraw the proposed amendment to the Factories Act that increases the daily working hours to 12. The office bearers also urged the government to withdraw amendments to various agriculture-related laws, including the APMC Act. Leaders Sunil Kumar Bajal (CITU), K Seetharama Berinja (AITUC), K. Phanindra (Bank Employees Union), Yadav Shetty (AIKS) and Oswald Prakash Fernandes (Raita Sangha) spoke
