Tamil Nadu

NLC contract labourers go on strike

CUDDALORE: More than 13,000 contract labourers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation began an indefinite strike from 6 a.m. Saturday, at a time when the management is gearing up to meet its year-end target of lignite excavation and power generation.

All-India Trade Union Congress secretary P. Kuppuswamy told The Hindu that though the unions had served a strike notice a fortnight ago, the management had shown little interest in solving the issue. It opted out of the conciliatory talks scheduled for March 25. Following the persistent demand, the management had agreed to pay an ex-gratia, equivalent to minimum bonus, with retrospective effect, for 2005-06 and 2006-07, and from the next financial years, this clause would be incorporated into the tenders.

He said, the labourers were demanding that the management pay them bonus, and not ex-gratia.

Their other demands were regularisation of the services of contract labourers, equal pay for equal work, recognition of their trade union and medical care in the NLC general hospital. Management sources said the NLC was now generating 2400 MW against the installed capacity of 2490 MW. In the event of clear skies, the strike would not have any immediate impact on generation.

If it rained, lignite excavation and the operation of thermal stations might get affected, because the contract labourers were mainly involved in maintenance.

The NLC has termed the strike illegal, violating as it does the agreement it had struck with Jeeva Contract Labourers’ Union.

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