TUs of the nation unite today

NEW DELHI: Shedding political inhibitions, trade unions of the Left, Right and Centre will get together here on Monday to step up pressure on the Manmohan Singh government to take ���corrective measures��� on several of its economic policies, including PSU disinvestment plans.

A declaration at the National Convention of Workers is expected to ask the government to ensure that it does not resort to disinvestment of shares of CPSEs for meeting budgetary deficit. Unions will suggest that the growing reserve and surplus of the of the enterprises be used for expansion and modernisation purpose and also for revival of sick PSUs.

Senior TU leaders said this was the first time in 25 years that there was such ���unanimity��� of trade unions. The trade unions had got together during the Janata regime to form the National Campaign Committee which lasted till 1982. Even then, the unions were protesting against economic policies.

With some Congress allies like Trinamool and DMK opposing disinvestment, the stand taken by TUs could add pressure on the government as it tries to draw up a list for divestment.

The convention, in which unions of all hues ��� Congress��� Intuc, RSS-affiliated BMS and Left-backed Citu and Aituc ��� will participate, are also demanding ���concrete proactive measures��� for linkage of employment protection in recession stricken sectors with the stimulus package being offered to concerned entrepreneurs and for augmenting public investment in infrastructure.

The unions will attack the government on issues like price rise, job loss, ���violation��� of labour laws and ���inadequacy��� of the Unorganised Sector Workers Social Security Act. They are demanding removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility coverage of the schemes under the unorganised workers act.

The unions will unitedly seek security for all unorganised workers including the contract/casual workers in line with recommendation of the National Commission on Enterprises in the unorganised sector and parliamentary standing committee on labour.