Unions want ministers' panel to participate in July 18 meet

Central trade unions today urged the Labour Ministry to ask the ministers' group, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, to participate in the July 18 meeting called to discuss the 12-point charter of demands.
The ministers' group has been constituted to talk with the trade unions on their charter of demands, which includes government's steps to deal with price rise, a universal social security cover for workers, stopping disinvestment of PSUs and opposition to FDI in railways and defence.
"Central trade unions in their joint letter to the Labour Minister felt that it would be useful if the Committee of Ministers also participates in the discussions scheduled for July 18 on 12-point charter," a joint statement said.

The last meeting with the Committee of Ministers was held on August 27, 2015.
The unions, in their meeting yesterday, have resolved to continue preparations for the September 2 one-day protest strike against anti-worker and anti-people policies of the government, it added.
They will also to participate in the meeting called by Labour Minister Bandaru Dattaterya July 18 for discussions on the charter of demands.

The CTUs appealed to the RSS-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) to join the protest strike.
Representative of BMS present in the meeting assured that they will consider the appeal in their next Working Committee meeting scheduled to be held in August 2016, it added.

"CTUs also expressed their dismay over unilateral steps of the government on open door FDI policy in strategic sectors and strategic sale of PSUs and disinvestment in others," it said.
Status quo should have been maintained during discussions. Government is also going ahead in labour law amendments through administrative orders, and state governments are effecting major anti-labour amendments in statutes concerning labour, it added.
The CTUs also feel that government is not adhering to norms of tripartite mechanism.
"In such a situation, unions will continue participating in discussions governed by the government and at the same time keep preparations on for All India General Strike on September 2 and Satyagraha on August 9, the historic Quit India Day," the joint statement said.