Trade unions Citu, Intuc, LPF and others planning agitation on budget eve

NEW DELHI: Major trade unions have chalked out a joint agitation plan a day before the budget to protest against what they call the government's ' anti-people agenda'. RSS backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and the Left trade unions Citu and Aituc, DMK's LPF and HMS besides Congress' Intuc will be taking to the streets on February 28.

Being a leap year, the budget presentation will be on February 29. Apart from its usual list of demands concerning price rise and labour laws, the trade unions are also planning to raise their voice against issues like corruption and black money and seek "corrective" legislation and administrative measures to eradicate the malaise.

Among its other demands are strict enforcement of labour laws, steps to curb price rise, addressing concerns of unorganised labour, minimum wages to be pegged at Rs 10,000, removing cap on bonus and gratuity and bar on contractual labour.

"This strike is going to be historic not only because all trade unions will be there but also for being a determined protest against the anti-workers policies," CPI MP and Aituc leader Gurudas Dasgupta said on Friday after a meeting of all trade unions.

Intuc had joined the trade unions' anti-government protests last year despite Congress conveying its disapproval of its trade union wing raising slogans against it.