Many associations stage stir to support beedi workers

Yogish Bhat promises solution to their demand

CITU, DYFI, SFI and other organisations staged a stir in the city on Monday supporting the demand of the beedi workers of minimum wages. The beedi workers started an indefinite strike four days ago.

Initially the supporting organisations had planned to picket the residence of Assembly Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat, but due to various reasons, the protesters stopped Bhat at PVS Circle in the city and handed over a memorandum keeping forth their demands. 

The protesters were stopped by the police at PVS Circle, where they staged a protest sitting on the street shouting out slogans. Seeing this, Yogish Bhat visited the protesters and accepted a memorandum from them. Responding positively to the demands, Bhat promised to try his level best to take steps to implement their demands at the earliest.

Addressing the protesters, later, opposite Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) building, CITU City Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said that both Congress and the BJP are playing with the lives of the beedi workers.

Demands

The demands kept forth by beedi workers are minimum wage of Rs 116.20 for every 1,000 beedis rolled and a bonus of Rs three paisa for every point increase in index sensex after 4,284 points.

Meet today

Meanwhile, a delegation of the members of S K Beedi Workers’ Federation (AITUC) submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and the Assistant Labour Commissioner requesting to settle the payment issue of the beedi workers and the beedi company owners. 

In response to the request, the Assistant Labour Commissioner has informed of calling a meeting at his office on Tuesday at 3 pm.