NLC workers call off strike, to join duty tonight

Contract labourers of Neyveli Lignite Corporation tonight decided to call off their 52-day- old strike following an agreement with the management over their demands during tripartite talks held by the central labour department here.
Ten of the 11 trade unions spearheading the strike agreed to the proposal made by the management to increase the daily wages during the talks held in the presence of Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) K Kandasamy.
The workers numbering around 10,000 have been on strike since September 3 pressing various demands, including wage revision and several rounds of talks were held in Neyveli, Puducherry and Chennai before the breakthrough was achieved.

According to NLC General Manager (HR) N Balaji, from the present level of Rs 370 per day, the wages will be increased to Rs 480. It would be implemented in two installments.
"Fifty per cent hike in the wages will be introduced effective next month while another 50 per cent would be implemented in April 2015," he told reporters here.
The employees would also get a Deepavali bonus of Rs 10,000 in coming days, he said.
Emerging from the meeting, Union sources said the workers would join duty tonight itself.
While the 10 representing trade unions backed by several political parties accepted the proposal, Jeeva Thozhilalargal Sangam refused it and its further course of action would be decided later, Jeeva Thozhir Sangam sources said.