Neyveli contract workers to launch hunger strike today

Around 13,000 contract workers of the state-owned Neyveli Lignite Corporation, who have been abstaining from work for the past one week, will be observing hunger strike on November 21 and 22.

According to V Muthuvel, president, CITU, the workers would continue their strike until their demands, 8.33 per cent bonus and minimum wages, were met.

A meeting between the NLC management, contractors' associations, and the deputy chief labour commissioner held at Chennai last week also failed to reach an agreement.

While the CITU president claimed that about 50 per cent of the production was affected due to the strike, NLC officials said that there were no production disruptions. However, if the strike continues it is likely to affect the lignite production and power generation of NLC.

Labour Progressive Front, the only recognised trade union, has not extended its support to the contract workers' agitation. Office-bearers of LPF would meet shortly to discuss the issue.

Only four months ago, about 20,000 employees and 12,000 contract workers of the company went on an indefinite strike protesting against disinvestment of 10 per cent of the equity in the public sector undertaking, which is a profit-making organisation.

However, the strike was called off after three days following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to put on hold the disinvestment of NLC and other public sector units (PSUs).