Workers’ unity came to the fore as they vowed on 113rd May Day on Wednesday to step up struggle against “neo-liberal economic policies” of the Central and the State governments.
Members of labour unions painted the town red with red buntings, and took out rallies.
Leading a rally from the Municipal Corporation office to the RTC depot of activists of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Communist Party of India (Marxist) district assistant secretary G.V.Konda Reddy said both the governments had not changed labour laws in favour of workers. Instead, they had pursued policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation with vigour.
Unfurling the CPI flag, its former MLC P.J. Chandrasekar called upon workers to unite to thwart attempts by those in power to deny workers rights they had secured after sustained struggles.
Members of the CPI(M-L)-New Democracy-led Arunodaya performed a skit taking a dig at the Narendra Modi government for allegedly pandering to corporate interests.
The BJP-led government at the Centre went on a privatisation spree, leaving many unemployed, alleged CPI(ML) New Democracy’s district Secretary Ch.Venkateswarlu.
Cultural meet
In Kurnool district, various parties and trade unions celebrated the day.
As part of a rally from the Chowrasta to the bus stand, the CPI(M) organised a cultural meet where workers sang and danced.
CPI(M)’s candidate for the Kurnool Lok Sabha seat Prabhakar Reddy and its candidate for the Assembly seat Shadrak addressed gatherings and spoke about the plight of workers in the district.
YSRCP’s candidate for the Kurnool Assembly seat Hafeez Khan addressed another meeting.
Pay parity
Meanwhile, Corporation Employees Union (ICEU) Kadapa division’s president M.J.A. Baig said the corporate set-up denied workers rights and targeted them.
At a function to mark the May Day in Kadapa on Wednesday, ICEU Kadapa division’s Secretary A. Raghunatha Reddy said regular recruitments had given way to contract employment which denied workers rights.
Though regular and contract employees performed same task, there was no pay parity, he said.
They urged the government to desist from weakening insurance companies, banks and public sector undertakings.