CITU, AITUC stage separate rallies over workers’ demands

Two separate trade unions held rallies in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, urging the State and Central governments to address various demands. The CITU-affiliated Visakha Auto Rickshaw Workers’ Union began their protest from the Railway Station, marching to Gandhi Park at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation office via the Divisional Railway Manager’s office and Dwaraka Junction.

The union’s district general secretary, K. Satyanarayana, accused the State government of failing to deliver on promises made two years ago. These included the establishment of a welfare board for auto drivers, subsidies on petrol and diesel, and the implementation of the ‘Vahana Mitra scheme’. Satyanarayana claimed the government had ignored these commitments since the coalition government took office.

The union also cited additional grievances, such as police photographing autorickshaws, imposing hefty fines during enforcement drives targeting school autos, and the transfer of Regional Transport Office (RTO) responsibilities to private entities. They threatened to escalate their protests if the desired outcomes were not achieved prior to the upcoming GVMC elections.

In a separate event, the Visakha District Council of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) organized a separate workers’ rally. Starting from Jagadamba Junction, the march proceeded to a statue of Gandhi near the GVMC office, followed by a protest demonstration. The AITUC highlighted what they considered to be "anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-people" policies being pursued by the Central and State governments.

Their demands encompassed the withdrawal of four labour codes, a minimum wage of ₹26,000, an eight-hour working day, and the regularization of contract, outsourced, and scheme workers. This list included not only auto drivers but also staff working in anganwadis, ASHA and mid-day meal positions. District general secretary G.S.J. Atchuta Rao and other AITUC officials joined the demonstration, alongside a large number of workers.