Punjab CITU Launched Mass Contact Campaign

At the call of All India CITU Secretariat Punjab CITU launched mass contact campaign on 2nd July against the anti-people neo-liberal economic policies, illegal contract labour system, mounting attacks on basic trade union rights of the workers, violation of existing labour laws and in support of just and genuine demands of the working class such as: enhance minimum wages of the unskilled workers to Rs. 10,000/-, semi-skilled workers to Rs. 15,000/- and skilled workers to Rs. 20,000/- per month and MNREGA workers to Rs. 350/- per day. 

Regularise services of the workers who have been employed on contact basis against regular posts by abolishing contract labour system and to ensure equal wage for equal work in all the industrial units,  Government and semi-Government departments. Ensure basic trade union rights and implementation of labour laws. Ensure pension for all. Regularise ICDS and cover all Scheme Workers like Anganwari Workers and Helpers, Asha & Mid-Day meal workers under minimum wages Act, 1948. Ensure implementation of Punjab Government Notification dated 17th February’ 2012 giving direction to treat minimum wages as basic wage.

During the campaign public meetings at mass rallies were held at Birhan, Mahilpur, Raikot, Bathinda, Mansa, Mohali, Ropar, Asron, Banah Tonsa, Ludhiana, Barnala, Firozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Ahmadgarh,, Dhuri, Rajpura, Patiala, Fazilka, Lehra Mohabat, Jagraon, Amritsar, Patran, Nangal and at the gates of several industrial units.
Public meetings and rallies were addressed by Comrade Raghunath Singh General Secretary Punjab CITU, Vijay Misra President Punjab CITU, Chander Shekhar Vice President, Jatinder Pal Singh Vice  President, Tarsem Jodhan General Secretary and Sat Pal Bharti President Lal Jhanda Punjab Bhatha Mazdoor Union, Dev Raj Verma  secretary Punjab CITU, Sucha Singh Treasurer, Ram Singh Sohian Vice President, Jagdish Chand Joint Secretary, M. S. Rauri, G. S. Bagi, Ranjit Singh, D. K.  Gora, Hanuman Parsad, Sukhwinder Lotte, Samar Bahadur, Gurbakhash Kaur all working committee members.

In his address Comrade Raghunath Singh told that CITU would further widen and intensify statewide mass agitation in support  of their just and genuine demands. Rejecting Punjab Government’s Notification proposing Rs. 5,200/- per month to unskilled, Rs. 6,000/- to semi-skilled and Rs. 8,700/- to skilled workers per month minimum wages he demanded from the Punjab Government to enhance minimum wages if unskilled workers to Rs. 10,000/-, semi-skilled workers to Rs. 15,000/- and skilled workers to Rs. 20,000/- per month, to regularize the services of  all contractual and casual workers who have been employed on contract basis against regular posts by abolishing illegal  contract labour system and to ensure equal wage for equal work to the contractual workers. He also demanded withdrawal of all false police cases registered against CITU leaders and activists and leaders and activists of other trade unions. During the campaign CITU succeeded in approaching nearly 15 thousands industrial,  MNREGA,  Brick Kiln, Forest, Construction, Transport, ASha & Mid-Day meal workers. On 9th July Rasta Roko action was also organized at five places. Everywhere the local press gave good coverage to our campaign. CITU has decided to continue this campaign up to 19th July.