Employees protest in Adampur

At the end of the march, the employees through a resolution demanded the government to settle the long-pending demands of employees failing which a bigger flag-march would be organised at Adampur on November 22.

The employees also raised slogans against the unprecedented price rise.

The march also went through streets of Bhogpur town and about three dozen villages of the Adampur constituency which goes to poll on November 25.

The agitating employees raised slogans against high prices of onions, pulses, essential commodities, hike in bus and electricity tariffs.

Ajit Singh Bagri, president of the federation, said the main demands of the employees included cash payment of dearness allowance at the rate of six per cent from July 1998 to employees, cash payment of bonus on the Central pattern, grant of higher pay scales to all categories of employees under ACP scheme after 4,5 and 14 years of service.

Shimla: Workers owing allegiance to CITU today held demonstration outside the office of Labour Commissioner to protest against the inaction of the Labour Department to prosecute unscrupulous managements indulged in unfair labour practices.

Later, the CITU also submitted a memorandum to the Labour Commissioner. A spokesman of the CITU alleged that Labour Department was hand in glove with the managements who were violating laws. He pointed out that the CITU had started indefinite hunger strike at Parwanoo led by Daljeet Singh, vice president of the CITU state committee which entered fourth day.

The spokesman said the Labour Department was neither resolving the disputes nor it was referring the matter for adjudication with court. The CITU had already submitted a list of pending disputes which was raised in the year 1994-95.

The CITU demanded early convening of the meeting of minimum wage board immediately to recommend wages of Rs 51 per day to the workers employed in private sector.

City has also expressed anguish over non-payment of ESI bills by the government amounting to Rs 58 lakh. The spokesman threatened to intensify its struggle in case demands were not met within reasonable time.