Trade unions call for nationwide strike on May 20 against privatisation, labour codes

New Delhi: To press for various demands, including scrapping of labour codes, stopping privatisation and holding regular consultations through Indian Labour Conference, several trade unions on Tuesday called for a nationwide strike on May 20.

The National Convention of Workers organised by the platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations adopted a declaration to carry out a two-month campaign which will culminate with a nationwide general strike on May 20, a statement said.

The leaders who addressed the convention endorsed the declaration.

Among those who addressed the convention included Ashok Singh from INTUC, Amarjeet Kaur from AITUC, Harbhajan Singh from HMS, Tapan Sen from CITU, Harish Tyagi from AIUTUC, K Indu Prakash Menon from TUCC, Lata Ben from SEWA, Rajiv Dimri from AICCTU, Jawahar Prasad from LPF, and Ashok Ghosh from UTUC.

The declaration includes major demands like scrapping of labour codes, stopping privatisation of public sector undertakings and services, minimum monthly wages of Rs 26,000, minimum monthly pension of Rs 9,000 under Employees Pension Scheme and holding the regular sessions of the Indian Labour Conference.

The union leaders also demanded that those not covered under any scheme be given Rs 6,000 per month by creating a special fund with contributions from states and the Centre.