Srinagar: Top trade union leaders of Jammu & Kashmir under the aegis of Jammu & Kashmir Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (J&K CCTU) on Saturday pledged to work for the restoration of the democratic and trade union rights besides fighting against withdrawal of popular decisions and implementation unpopular measures and policies inimical to the interests of general public within and outside Jammu & Kashmir. Top trade unionists including Mohammad Maqbool Ganaie, Sushil Sudan, Aijaz Ahmad Kham , Suresh Sharma, Malik Hassan, Gurmeet Singh and Veerji Raina addressed a huge conclave of the trade union workers attended by government employees and different cadres of daily rated workers also.
The leaders accused the incumbent central government of throwing up new challenges by the implementation of what they called “neo liberal economic and anti-working policies” causing hardships to common people in general and working class in particular. They also blamed the government for increasing un-employment, price rise of essential commodities, large scale disinvestment of public sector units, attacks on social security system like pension,amendment in labour laws in favour of corporate houses, outsourcing, contractorisation and casualisation in government and semi government departments . Saying that such anti-people measures are deepening the increasing resentment among the employees and workers in almost all sectors, the trade union leaders said “huge burden has been put on the working class by implementation of Goods & Service Tax (GST) , note ban and withdrawal of subsidy on essential items”. Huge bonanza given to capitalists owning corporate houses, multinational companies operating in India,waving of NPAs’ to the tune of 8 lac crores have drained the exchequer.
Accusing the government of diverting the attention of people from real issues concerning their economic and institutional welfare in an attempt to divide the people on communal lines by trying to implement citizenship amendment act (CAA) and enforce unpopular citizenship laws like NRC and NPR, the trade union leaders said “ silencing the dissenting voices by authoritarian and undemocratic means is aimed at creating chaos and confusion among the people . Saying that the withdrawal of special status to Jammu & Kashmir and bifurcation of erstwhile state into two union territories has resulted in uncertainty and chaos among both the employees and as well as workers, the leaders said “ Democratic,trade union and civil rights are under attack”. Voicing concern over internet blocked and unbundling of power sector to shut the lifeline of the economy only to put huge burden on common people, the leaders alleged that other departments, PHE, I&FC and R&B are also being corportarized. Saying tthat fate of about 2 lakh temporary workers including casual labours, Anganwari workers and Asha Workers hangs in balance, the leaders pledged to fight for wage and regularisation policy for all temporary workers with minimum monthly salary of Rs 18000/- for them , abolition of SRO 202 for new government and public sector recruits, withdrawal of National Pension Scheme (NPS) for J& Government employees, reversing the decision of unbundling the power sector, and restoration of democratic and trade union rights
