Mysuru: Members of various Trade Unions along with workers from private and public sector units celebrated May Day by taking out a rally in city on Wednesday to uphold the interests of working class.

The rally, organised jointly by several leftist labour unions under an umbrella of trade organisations like AITUC, CITU, AIUTUC, JCTU and BSNLEU, proceeded from the Town Hall premises and passed through the main thoroughfares of the city before culminating at the Freedom Fighters Park where a public meeting was held.

AITUC leader Seshadri, in his address, called for better co-operation and co-ordination between labour unions in order to urge the Government to agree to their demands. He maintained that the workers and farmers in the country were going through the worst times.

Regretting that no political party is bothered about the real issues faced by workers and farmers in the country, Seshadri said that earlier workers were classified as casual and permanent. But now we have many classifications like contract employees, fixed-term employees etc., and such divisions have been created to make exploitation of workers easier, he observed.

At Ganabharathi

Labour Day celebrations was also held at Ganabharathi premises. Speaking as the chief guest, District Principal and Sessions Judge S.K. Vontigodi rooted for better awareness of labour laws among workers. Pointing out that he had worked in Labour Courts and resolved many disputes, he said in majority of cases, he had noticed that labourers had little knowledge of labour laws and its provisions, which should not be the case.

Stressing on the need for employers and institutions to take the effort of educating the employees on labour laws and rights, Judge Vontigodi said strikes and layoffs should not be unnecessarily declared as it would hurt the growth of industrial sector.

Deputy Labour Commissioner C.B. Balakrishna spoke about the shortage of staff that his department is facing and appealed the Government to fill the posts at the earliest.

Mysuru District Legal Services Authority Member-Secretary B.P. Devamane, Karnataka State Daily Wage Employees Association President Pramod Chikkamannur and others were present.

In other May Day celebrations, the Mysuru District Congress Committee felicitated porters at the City Railway Station.

MLC R. Dharamasena, City Congress President R. Murthy and other party leaders garlanded the porters and presented them gifts.

BJP MLA L. Nagendra felicitated Pourakarmikas at Ambedkar Park in Kuvempunagar.

The Mysuru Chapter of  Builders Association of India and Mysuru Builders Charitable Trust organised a slew of entertainment programmes for construction workers and their families at Mahajana College. Several senior construction workers were also felicitated.

Mysuru Polymers and Rubbers Products  celebrated May Day at Kalamandira in which the employees were treated to variety entertainment.

Newspaper distributors feted

Newspaper Distributors were felicitated at a programme organised by Pathi Foundation at Agrahara Circle yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Foundation President M.D. Parthasarathy said that a legislation on 8-hour work per day was introduced for the first time on May 1, 1881 and the first May Day was celebrated on May 1, 1886 in America.

Pointing out that May Day is being celebrated in India since 1923, he stressed on the need for more organisation of the working class.

Highlighting the role of Newspaper Distributors and Agents in distributing newspapers to every household early in the morning every day, he said that the Government must provide financial security to them.

Newpspaper Distributors Manjunath, Chethan and Manjanna were felicitated.