Trade unions to hold country wide agitation on November 8

NEW DELHI: Central trade unions including Congress-backed INTUC on Wednesday decided to stage a country-wide agitation on November 8 including a 'jail bharo' stir to press for implementation of their charter of demands including compulsory registration of trade unions.

A decision to this effect was taken at the national convention of workers, where the unions also decided to hold dharnas in all state capitals against the alleged apathy of the government which, they claimed, has "turned a deaf ear to their demands for long".

"If Anna Hazare's fast can compel the government to act against corruption, the trade unions can fight vigorously to change the policy of the government," said senior trade union leader and MP Gurudas Dasgupta.

National secretary of United Trade Union Congress Abani Roy said the fight for securing the rights for the workers should be carried out on a "sustained" basis and "unitedly" so as to build pressure on the government to act.

Major trade unions like Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Indian National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India United Trade Union Centre participated in the convention.

The convention in its declaration demanded no contractorisation of work of permanent or perennial nature and giving parity to contract workers in payment of wages.