Unionists forge united force for May Day
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, March 17 2011:
To coincide with May Day which is internationally observed as Labour Day, trade unions in Manipur are attempting an all out efforts to lodge a protest demand initiated by coalition of all trade unions of the country.
May Day this year will shake up the ruling dispensation of the country with a massive crowd of working class and laborers from across the country unitedly and contemporaneously going on a rally, said L Sotinkumar, coordinator of coordination committee of trade unions Manipur today in a press meet.
He said that Manipur will also stage a formidable rally of labor and trade unions in the capital Imphal in support of the all-India initiative.
May Day has been observed in the State by different organizations and unions separately for the past many years, but this year all trade unions of the State will forge a united force to press for the demands placed before the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government by trade union central leadership, he stated today in the press meet at press club here.
The five demands raised by the united all India trade unions ranges from price rise, corruption, unemployment, labor law etc.
He went on to point out that on account of the following rally, trade unions in Manipur will be initiating for the entire month of April campaigns, street corner meeting, public meeting, mass action campaign and such other awareness campaign throughout the hill and plain areas of the State to educate the people of the disadvantage of capitalism and privatization.
The "Parliament Chalo" rally by members of trade unions from all over the country in February 23 last had witnessed the convergence of about 5 lac trade unionists, with 365 representatives from Manipur, said Sotinkumar, adding that the tremor of the massive rally was felt in the budget session of the Parliament which reflected a pro-people agendas through the UPA-II government with clear cut schemes on old age pension, anganwadi workers and helpers, ASHA workers, MGNREGS etc.
which was all augmented from the previous budget.
Even though some of the demands have been conceded to, important policy decisions were not taken up by the government which is unsatisfactory, he said.
To lend more effect to the protest demand, various forms of awareness campaign will be staged through the entire month of April to coincide with May 1 (May Day) on which day huge unionists rally is being planned in the capital Imphal, remarked Sotinkumar.