Plan long march to Vidhan Sabha on March 15

Plan long march to Vidhan Sabha on March 15
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, FEB 15: The trade union joint action committee today resolved to hold a `long march' to the Vidhan Sabha on March 15, 2001 in their ongoing agitation the labour law changes, privatisation and the Enron issue. Making this announcement after a resolution was passed by 30 trade unions which form a part of the committee, convenor of the committee, A D Golandaz insisted that even if the city police did not give them any permission, it would be the `workers' struggle' that would succeed.

The committee were more enthusiastic of the success of this programme as hordes of workers from various fields - state government employees, state transport corporation employees, the civic employees and workers, teachers and professors of educational institutions came in large numbers to the Shivaji Park at Dadar. ``It is no longer a question of our jobs, but of our survival...we will either win or perish'', signalled Sharad Rao, president of the Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat, to thunderous applause.

The trade unions are protesting against the state government's proposed changes in labour laws which are taking away many of the hard earned privileges of the working class and thinning their security cushions, in keeping with the demands of attracting industry and investments. Already there is largescale unemployment, with state dairy employees as well as state transport corporation employees feeling the heat what with talks on for the privatisation of their corporations. ``It is not just the struggle of the working class of Maharashtra, but a struggle which is being undertaken by workers throughout the country,'' assured Rao.

Apart from the two points, the committee has also denounced the state's and country's payment to the Dabhol Power Corporation. ``We want that Enron should go..the government should finish off all their dues owed to DPC and slowly take over their plant...as for the second phase, that should be scrapped,'' Golandaz told this newspaper. As for the mode of payment for Enron, he said that if the government can levy an earthquake levy, why shouldn't it do so for Enron? ``After all, how low can the rates of Enron be reduced to?..in the long run, it will be just as expensive....if there is no levy, our workers are willing to raise funds for it,'' he said.