AN HONOUR: The General Secretary, Staff and Workers' Federation, R. Lakshmaiah (middle) presenting a memento to the All India CITU president, M.K. Pandhe in Hyderabad on Sunday. The MD, APSRTC, M.V. Krishna Rao looks on. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: The president of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), M.K. Pandhe on Sunday regretted that the "lopsided" tax policies of the UPA Government were making essential commodities dearer while making luxury goods cheaper.

He was addressing members of the CITU-affiliated APSRTC Staff and Workers Federation at its 6th conference coinciding with its silver jubilee celebrations. In an hour-long speech, he spoke of how imports were on the rise and exports on the decline and how luxury commodities were made affordable at lesser prices than ever even as sugar, grains and other goods of daily use were becoming dearer.

Fuel price hike

There was an urgent need to improve the living and working conditions of the workers in the transport sector in the country, he said, adding it could be achieved only if they were united. He regretted that despite the repeated suggestions of the Left parties, the UPA Government was yet to reduce fuel prices. The price increase apart, the cascading of fuel hikes had a telling effect on every sphere of economic activity, he said.

Dr. Pandhe reminded those present of the September 29 countrywide general strike and said the working classes should participate in it and make it a success.

Call for unity

The president of the APSRTC Employees Union, B. Rama Rao, regretted that despite the growing strength of trade unions, the number of working hours were only going up from eight hours a day to even 14 hours some days. The need of the hour was for workers to unite regardless of political affiliation and fight injustice.

The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the APSRTC, M.V. Krishna Rao said the workers should resolve to work harder than ever before for putting the corporation on the road to recovery and profits.

The workforce neither lacked strength nor leadership to channelise their strengths productively, he said.

The Federation president, M.N. Reddy presided and general secretary, R. Lakshmaiah, Executive Director of APSRTC, Prabhakar Reddy and Chief Financial Officer, G. Somasekhara Rao were present.

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