GUWAHATI, April 8 - �Trade unions are not just the bodies fighting for workers� rights, but they are organisations working against discrimination, which contributes to building an equal and just society for all.�
Eminent educationist Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury stated this during his speech at the 60th Annual Conference of the Assam Tribune Employees� Union (ATEU) held on the Tribune Buildings premises here today.
�When such organisations raise their voices on other important issues as well, like global warming and maintaining ecological balance, it creates a wider impact among people,� he observed in his speech as the chief guest of the event.
Dr Choudhury lauded the ATEU for its role in the trade union movement as well as other spheres of social life.
�Generations have grown up reading and admiring the objective and unbiased reporting of The Assam Tribune, Dainik Asam and Asom Bani of the Tribune Group. The ATEU should be lauded for its role in creating and maintaining a work environment, where positive traits can flourish among the employees,� he said, praising the Tribune Group for successfully organising the closing ceremony of the platinum jubilee celebration of The Assam Tribune and the golden jubilee celebration of the Dainik Asam.
He also enthralled the audience by reciting two poems by Asam Keshari Ambikagiri Raichoudhury and Hiren Bhattacharyya.
Trade Union leader Khanindra Chandra Das, the appointed speaker of the event, exhorted the younger generation to join the trade union movement so that the rights of workers do not fall prey to the changing globalisation scenario. He said that the State is facing a crisis with issues like including flood, erosion, illegal influx, big dams, unemployment, etc., acquiring alarming propositions.
Reiterating the ATEU�s stand for raising its voice also for the employees of other newspaper organisations of the State, its president Siba Prasad Deka said that while the Tribune Group has set an example nationwide by implementing the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board, other newspapers of the State are yet to give such benefits to their employees, which is unfortunate.
�Trade union movements are discouraged in the newspaper houses on various pretexts. But, stepping into its 60th year, we assure that the ATEU would grow from strength to strength and work not just for its members, but also for the other deprived newspaper employees of the State,� he added.
Earlier, the Union general secretary Dugdha Ram Kalita read out the general secretary�s report.
�We demand of the State Government to arrange for government pension for media employees in the lines of the Kerala government scheme. Moreover, steps should be taken to ensure protection of journalists,� he stated, asking the members also to contribute to environmental protection.
Meanwhile, the members of the new executive committee of the ATEU for the year 2017-18 were introduced by chief election officer RD Goswami in the meeting.
At the outset, reception committee convener Tank-eswar Kakati explained the objectives of the meet while committee chairman Atulya Madhab Goswami delivered the welcome address.
Three proposals accepted in the subject committee, including a proposal against amendments in the Labour Acts, thrust on implementation of Majithia Wage Board recommendations and protest against the price rise of essential items were read out by Hiranya Barman. Ghana Deka and Santanava Hazarika enthralled the audience with a song and a poem recitation respectively. A cultural programme followed the conference.
