Over 300 contract workers of NLC arrested

Over 300 contract workers of Neyveli Lignite Corporation were arrested today while trying to picket second lignite mine in the town, demanding regularisation of services, among other things, police said.

The workers earlier took out a march from Mandharakuppam area to the mine before trying to picket it, M Gopal, Inspector of Police (Neyveli) told reporters.

AITUC Cuddalore District Secretary M Sekar, who was among those arrested, said the indefinite strike by over 10,000 contract workers entered the 14th day today over their six point charter of demands, including service regularistation and bonus.

Alleging that over 10,000 vacancies of "industrial worker-2" grade are lying vacant over seven years, he said the demand to absorb contract workers to these posts had not been heeded to by the management.
 

He said trade unions are planning a state-wide agitation against NLC next week.

NLC Public Relations Officer S Sridhar claimed that power generation and lignite production had not been affected due to the strike.

Today power generation was 2400 MW of the total capacity 2490 MW, he said.