Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
To express solidarity with ongoing workers’ protests in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged demonstrations on April 16 at the gates of various companies in the Chikalthana and Waluj MIDC areas.
More than 50,000 workers have launched agitations in Panipat (Haryana), Surat (Gujarat), and across 15 industrial zones in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding wage hikes and other benefits. Alleging that the government is attempting to suppress the movement through coercive measures, CITU organised protests on Thursday in the Chikalthana and Waluj industrial estates. The union stated that the demonstrations were held to condemn the alleged repression and to support the protesting workers.
According to the union, most contract workers across sectors are paid only Rs 13,000 to Rs 14,000 per month while being made to work 12-hour shifts. They are not provided job security or benefits such as ESIC, bonus, provident fund, or weekly leave. CITU’s state vice-president Damodar Mankape said the protest aimed to secure workers’ rights. Among those present at the demonstration were Mankape, state office-bearers Mangal Thombre, Gorakhnath Rathod, Ajay Bhavalkar, Basvaraj Patne, Nagnath Bade, Kormesh Hake, Samadhan Surwase, Manohar Saner, Baba Kale, Pramila Pawar, Padma Nikam and Lata Shirsat, along with other trade union representatives and workers.
Demand for Rs 30,000 minimum wage
The union demanded a minimum monthly wage of Rs 30,000 for an 8-hour workday and double payment for overtime. It also called for the regularisation of contract, trainee and fixed-term employees across private, semi-government, government, public service and local self-government sectors. Other demands included equal pay and benefits for equal work, and the regularisation of Anganwadi, school nutrition scheme and NHM employees.