‘The boat will be stoned’; Voice message of CITU activists planning violent strike out

# Mathrubhumi News

Alappuzha: CITU challenged the houseboat strike to be held in Alappuzha on Saturday. CITU calls on those who do not participate in the strike. Voicemails have surfaced of plans for a violent strike. The messages also say that those who do not participate in the strike will be dealt with.

The audio message says that if the boat is launched without participating in the strike, the boat will be pelted with stones and the workers will be assaulted. If the party has said not to run, then it is clear. It is said in the messages circulating in the WhatsApp groups of CITU workers that those who are working against this should be kept aside and dealt with.

Meanwhile, CITU leader CK Sadashivan responded that the House Boat Workers Union has not taken any such decision. He added that they are not ready to take responsibility for what others say.

The union has called for a strike on Saturday demanding an increase in wages. Currently the monthly income of workers is Rs.12000. The daily rate is Rs 290. The workers demand that this should be increased to at least Rs. 18,000. Houseboat owners are ready for a wage hike of up to 10 percent, but the union’s demand is for a 50 percent hike. Discussions to settle the strike will be held between houseboat owners and workers on Friday.