Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082353030300.htm

Karnataka

Anjaneya mill workers on strike

Staff Correspondent

Demands violate labour pact, says management

Employees seek minimum wages, overtime payment
Cotton bales and machinery damaged

DAVANGERE: Employees of the Anjaneya Cotton Mill, which is one among the two old functional cotton mills in Davangere, have been on strike for the past few days.

The strike reportedly turned violent, and workers destroyed cotton stocks and machinery, the management said, adding that it was forced to temporarily stop production.

Managing Director of the mill Athani Kotresh told The Hindu here on Friday that the mill had incurred over Rs. 5.5 crore loss on account of the strike, apart from damage to machinery and cotton bales.

He said that according to the labour agreement, employees should not make demands involving additional financial burden on the company. The workers had made several demands that violated the labour agreement signed some months ago, he claimed and added that the management was not in a position to fulfil any of them as of now.

The Mazdoor Sangha, a recognised trade union at the mill, said the employees had made some basic demands such payment of minimum wages and overtime. Most of the employees worked overnight, and were entitled to overtime, Thimmappa, convener of the sangha said.

Clash

The minimum wages had not been implemented and employees were being given paltry amounts, he alleged.

The sangha also denied destroying raw material and machinery and said there was a clash between few employees that might have resulted in the damage. The sangha had nothing to do with the incident. The management, using the incident as an excuse, had intentionally held the sangha responsible, Mr. Thimappa alleged.

Mr. Kotresh said the mill produced over 17 tonnes of yarn every day. For the past few days, production had come down by five tonnes owing to the strike.

There were over 750 permanent employees and 150 trainees at the mill, all of whom were being paid well, he claimed. Mr. Kotresh said each employee was paid according to the work he did. The management was trying its best to run the mill despite not making a profit.

The company was trying to keep the best interests of the employees in mind, but it was finding it difficult to carry on as the cost of raw material had gone up. The Assistant Labour Commissioner has called for a conciliation meeting on Monday.