Civil Supplies hamalis demand hike in labour charges

Warangal: The workers associated with the Telangana State Civil Supplies Hamali Union affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) staged a dharna in the town on Wednesday demanding hike in labour charges. In support of their demand, they took out a massive protest rally from Ekasila Park to the district Collectorate in Hanamkonda and staged a demonstration. Addressing the gathering, AITUC State deputy general secretary S Balaraju urged the government to resolve the issue immediately.

Otherwise, the workers would be forced to launch a massive state-wide strike on April 25, he warned. Balaraju said that the workers were offered a meagre amount of Rs 12 for loading and unloading of food grain bags at the Civil Supplies warehouses and they wanted it to be hiked to Rs 20. However, the officials of the State Civil Supplies Corporation have unilaterally decided to offer a hike of Rs 1.50 per bag without holding consultations with workers unions.

It was outrageous to offer such paltry increase in labour charges, lamented Balaraju. The AITUC leader said Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who offered to hike the salaries of legislators by 300 per cent should respond to the rightful demand of the hamali workers who were given a hike of 12 per cent hike in the charges, he demanded. The district AITUC general secretary Panasa Prasad wanted the government to respond immediately. Otherwise, the agitation would be intensified, he warned.

District CPI secretary T Srinivasa Rao said that the party would stand by the hamali workers and asked the government to address their just demands. AITUC leaders A Srinivas, V Zakharaiah, G Upender, J Chandramouli, K Mallaiah, K Mogili and others were present.