Telangana theatre employees launch protest

The Telangana cinema theatre employees along with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have staged a protest in Hyderabad demanding that the government implement GO 45 with immediate effect. They also put forward their long-pending demands related to salaries and requested the government to initiate action against theatre owners for not paying them full wages during the lockdown in accordance with the GO. 

"We haven't been paid full salaries for the last two months and as a result, the lives and livelihoods of about 20,000 families are being affected. The theatre owners are either terminating or imposing 40-50% pay cut citing the lockdown going against the government's order to pay full salaries to their employees. We demand the government to provide us with sufficient ration, essential items, and financial aid of Rs 500 to each family during these difficult times," said the protesters. 

Led by CITU general secretary G Venkatesh, Paladugu Bhaskar, Telangana cinema theatres employees union state president M Marenna and others, the employees also threatened to intensify their protests if their demands were not met.