Trade unions call for national strike on Dec 14

Gulbarga, Nov 28 (UNI) Trade unions, including AITUC, CITU and HMS, under the banner of Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions have called for a nation-wide strike on December 14 against the ''anti-people and anti-employee'' policies of the Union and State Governments.

Addressing a press conference here today, AITUC State General Secretary H V Anantha Subba Rao said the Central Government and State Government employees unions, oil sector employees federations and bank employees unions had agreed to take part in the token stir.

Expressing resentment over the State Government's circular, threatening to initiate disciplinary action against the employees participating in the strike, he described it as ''undemoctaric and curtailment of rights'' and demanded that the Government withdraw the circular immediately.

Mr Rao blamed the Centre for the steep hike in the prices of essential commodities following the skyrocketing of petroleum price.

Deploring the Government's action of decreasing the wage of beedi workers to Rs 60 from Rs 80, the trade unionist alleged that the illegitimate move was taken at the instance of some employers, who had bribed some Ministers.

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