Mangalore : The Dakshina Kannada Beedi Workers’ Federation Subsidiary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and South Canara Beedi Workers’ Federation (CITU) oganised a protest rally demanding the payment of dearness allowance, at South Canara Home Industires, Lalbagh here on Friday July 4.

Addressing to the protesters V.S. Berinje CITU Genaral secretary said, beedi contractors not paying Rs 21.15 to the beedi employers as dearness allowance (DA) per 1000 beedis with effect from April 2014 as per the government order. The beedi workers have protesting from several months demanding the dearness allowance due to them.

He said that, the associations have also handed over a memorandum to various beedi owners. Neither the beedi company owners nor the labour department has paid any heed to our demands. We will not stop our fight until we get justice.

More than 4 lakh beedi workers defended the beedi industries. They are facing monetary problems. Beedi workers have always remained silent. The employers should not test the patience of beedi workers, he added.

B M Bhat , J.Balakrishna Shetty, V Kukian, president, AITUC, B.Shekar, vice-president and others were present.