The Hindu Business Line : Trade unions draw up charter of demands

SENSING that their voice could now influence policy making at the Centre under the new political formation, leading trade unions today drew up a charter of demands for inclusion in the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) Common Minimum Programme (CMP). The CMP is to be officially announced on Thursday.

Even as the UPA partners were holding a meeting to iron out differences over the draft CMP, the trade unions handed over their own charter of demands to the Labour Minister, Mr Sis Ram Ola, expressing their opposition to any system of `hire and fire' and demanding a minimum 10 per cent annual interest rate on provident fund deposits.

The interest rate on PF deposits have gradually declined over the years to 9.5 per cent, keeping pace with the overall decline in the interest rate structure. The previous NDA Government had not ruled out a further fall from the present rate.

The unions have also sought a comprehensive new law to protect the interest of agricultural workers and unorganised sector workers. They have also called for a complete halt in privatisation of profitable and strategic public sector undertakings, a stand that has been taken by the Left parties that would provide outside support to the UPA. The charter of demands was finalised at a major meeting of trade unions held in the Capital today. Present at the meeting were senior unions leaders representing all-India trade union bodies such as the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and the Trade Union Coordination Committee (TUCC)

"We had certain differences on the draft CMP that was circulated by the Congress some time ago. There were also certain issues dear to the trade unions that we felt were completely ignored by the document," a senior trade union leader present at the meeting said.

He said that the Labour Minister had been asked to forward their concerns to the Prime Minster, Dr Manmohan Singh, before the CMP is finalised.

The trade unions have upped their ante in the belief that they could turn out to be an important pressure group providing inputs for finalising policies in view of the large chunk of Members of Parliament supporting the Government who too have labour interests close to their hearts.

The Left parties together have a combined strength of 60 MPs, the number being strong enough to have a major say in the policies of the new Government.

More Stories on : Politics | Trade & Labour Unions

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Air-India to levy fuel surcharge

Even as Reliance wins supply contract — GAIL offers to transport gas to NTPC plants

Consensus on CMP reached — Left against hire and fire, seeks to widen negative list on privatisation

Trade unions draw up charter of demands

Amitabh to endorse DD, settle its dues

Pvt firms top in PSU debt placements

Foreign crew for Indian ships?

Pvt banks gaining more Govt business