CITU backs HRTC employees’ Agitation, Slams ESMA as ‘Undemocratic’
Shimla, June 24
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Himachal Pradesh State Committee, has extended full support to the ongoing agitation of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees and strongly criticized the state government’s decision to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to curb the proposed strike.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, CITU State President Vijendra Mehra and General Secretary Prem Gautam expressed solidarity with the HRTC employees and warned that any attempt to suppress their democratic movement would be met with a statewide response from the working class.
The CITU leaders accused the state government of ignoring the long-pending demands of HRTC employees and pensioners. They said it was surprising that instead of addressing legitimate grievances, the government was resorting to measures aimed at suppressing the employees’ movement.
Describing the invocation of ESMA as “dictatorial,” the CITU leaders stated that the Constitution, particularly Article 19, along with the Trade Unions Act, 1926 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, provides employees the right to organize and protest for their demands. They alleged that the government was attempting to curtail these democratic rights rather than engaging in dialogue with the employees.
According to the statement, HRTC employees have been raising issues related to pending overtime arrears, night allowances, dearness allowance installments, medical reimbursement claims and other financial benefits for several years. The organization also highlighted the plight of pensioners, claiming that retirement and death gratuity, leave encashment, revised pension benefits, medical reimbursements and other dues remain unpaid.
The CITU leaders further alleged that employee representatives were being transferred and that temporary recruitment drives were being initiated to weaken the ongoing movement. They claimed that workers were facing various forms of harassment aimed at discouraging participation in the agitation.
Maintaining that employees were struggling not only for their economic demands but also for the protection of their fundamental rights, CITU said the government should resolve the issues through discussions instead of adopting coercive measures.
The trade union body reiterated its complete support for the HRTC employees and warned that if any repressive action was taken against the workforce, workers across Himachal Pradesh would unite in support of the movement.This version follows a neutral news-reporting style while accurately reflecting CITU’s allegations and position.
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