Trade Unions Rally in Vizag During Nationwide Strike
Responding to the All-India Strike call by central trade unions, activists affiliated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) organised a large protest march in the city on Thursday.
The rally began at the Ambedkar Statue near the GVMC Zonal Office and proceeded through the Market Centre and other zonal areas, including Madhurawada. Demonstrators raised slogans against the four labour codes, the reported reduction in allocations for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2025.
Addressing the gathering, M. Paidiraju, CPI State Council member and AITUC leader, alleged that recent policy measures of the Union government were “anti-worker” and would weaken labour protections.
The protesters submitted a charter of demands to the authorities. These included the regularisation of contract, outsourced, and unorganised sector workers, along with a minimum monthly wage of ₹26,000 and statutory benefits such as ESI, PF, and gratuity. They also called for the abolition of the contract system and for wages to be paid directly by the government.
Other demands included the restoration and safeguarding of MGNREGS, higher support prices for agricultural produce, comprehensive insurance coverage for farmers, and the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The unions further sought the absorption of medical contract workers as permanent government employees.
“The disinvestment and privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings, including Vizag Steel Plant, must be halted,” speakers said during the rally.