Employee unions affiliated with All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) celebrated May Day with various programmes. The celebrations were marked by vehicle rallies, demonstrations and public meetings conducted by them.
Motor Workers Union’s district-wide celebrations began after AITUC state working committee member and union general secretary Pattom Sasidharan inaugurated the event at Killipalam Junction. K Mohanan, A S Navabudeen and others participated in the function. Autorickshaw, taxi, tempo, trucker, lorry-mini lorry and private bus employees took a ‘work protection’ oath at the unit centres.
May Day celebrations conducted by prepaid autorickshaw drivers’ unit of Thampanoor was inaugurated by AITUC district secretary Kuttyanikkadu Madhu. Celebrations at prepaid auto unit of Gandhinagar were inaugurated by Pattom Sasidharan. A vehicle rally was also taken out by the union, which began from Museum police station. Celebrations at the taluk-level were guided by union district members.
May Day was also celebrated by Kerala Hospital Employees’ Association. A rally and public meeting conducted by employees of SUT Hospital, Pattom, were inaugurated by CPI state executive member and association president P Ramachandran Nair. Pattom Sasidharan, association state secretary, presided over the function. Association members Valiyara Mohanan Nair, R Pradeep, K Mohanan Nair and Ratheesh participated in the function.
All-Kerala Laundry Employees Association’s May Day celebrations were held at Rosepower Laundry Company, close to Kochuveli industrial area. Association general secretary Pattom Sasidharan inaugurated the function. Flag-hoisting was done by M Xavier. G Arunkumar, G Kiran Kumar, B L Ragesh, Ramachandran and others attended the function.
May Day celebrations of Kerala Luxury Hotels, Bars and Clubs Employees Association were conducted in front of the Mannam Memorial National Club here. CPI district secretary Venjarammodu Sasi inaugurated the function. Association general secretary Pattom Sasidharan presided over. Association members K Bhaskara Pillai, Arun V Nair, R Rajan, B Sasidharan Nair and others were present.
Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Union took out the May Day rally from Ayurveda College Junction to Martyr’s Column in the city raising various problems faced by women employees in unorganised sector. Mayor K Chandrika inaugurated the rally. In the inaugural speech, she said that the employees in unorganised sector comprising wayside vendors, employees doing home services and traditional workers should also be seriously brought under the consideration of the government. Chandrika promised that within the time-frame of this council, maximum projects would be formulated for them. Mercy Alexander, SEWA Union secretary Sonia George, president Sunitha S L and Ceta Dasan spoke.