Date:29/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/29/stories/2006122922530300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

NGEF employees observe `Black Day'

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The NGEF Employees' Union on Thursday observed "Black Day" in protest against the delay in revival of the New Government Electric Factory.

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the factory's closure, the 122-member union urged the Government to come out openly with its plan.

If the Government had no intention to revive the factory, it should transfer the employees to other departments, they said.

While many of the 2,000 workers had taken voluntary retirement before the closure, the services of 122 members who did not opt for it had been terminated. They had been languishing without any retirement benefit or salary, union general secretary M. Siddaramaiah said. Although the factory was still capable of producing quality transformers and even catering to the needs of the proposed metro rail, the Government had ignored it, he alleged.

If the Government did not intend to revive the unit, it could dispose of the valuable land and pay dues to the employees, he said.

The union would to hold a demonstration in front of the Chief Minister's residence if the Government did not meet its demands immediately, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.