Date:22/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022203151900.htm

Back Jute mill workers go on strike

Our Bureau

VISAKHAPATNAM: Workers of three jute mills in Vizianagaram district under the Kolkata-based Hooghly Jute Mills - Aruna, East Coast and Bobbili - have decided to go on strike from Wednesday, as wage negotiations have failed.

There are 12,000 workers in the three composite jute mills.

According to the Vice-President of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions, Mr P. Prasad, more than nine rounds of discussions between the management representatives and the union could not result in any agreement.

The bone of contention is the wage of `badili' (non-permanent, but skilled) workers. The union is demanding a wage of Rs 130 per day for the `badili' workers and the management is not willing to concede anything beyond Rs 103 per day. A permanent worker in the mills gets Rs 142 per day.

On the norm of equal wage for equal work, the union contends that the `badili' worker too should be paid the wage of a permanent worker. "We should insist on Rs 142 per day for the badili workers too, but taking into account the market conditions we have scaled our demand down to Rs 130. But even that is not being accepted," said Mr Prasad.