Leaders and members of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) on Monday staged a protest at Jagadamba Junction here in support of the Swarna Gramam and Swarna Ward (SGSW) secretariat employees who are agitating over their pending demands.

CITU State president Ch. Narasinga Rao said the government should resolve the employees’ issues instead of resorting to what he descried as coercive measures. He said the employees were seeking promotions, notional increments, payment of nine months’ arrears, reduction in workload and an end to alleged harassment.

Mr. Narasinga Rao also demanded the release of employees arrested during Sunday’s protest in Vijayawada and withdrawal of cases against them. He alleged that permission for the protest had been denied and employees were detained at Dharna Chowk.