VISAKHAPATNAM: The contract workers of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) began an indefinite strike on Thursday demanding a solution to their problems, including higher wages.

The CITU, AITUC, TNTUC, HMS, BMS and Contract Labour Union are supporting the strike. The CITU State president, Ch. Narsinga Rao, described the strike as a success.

About 7,000 workers took out a rally from the Coke Oven to Balacheruvu Gate.

Addressing a meeting there, Mr. Narsinga Rao wanted the management to respond to the strike and take steps to solve their problems. The contract workers were not getting wages in proportion to their labour though they were working as hard as the permanent staff.

Their wages were lower than those paid to contract workers in other steel plants, he said.

The striking workers' demands include other benefits like DA, bonus, ESI and medical facilities.

The Steel Employees' Union general secretary, N. Rama Rao, AITUC leader, D. Adinarayana, B. Ramamohan Kumar of TNTUC, B. Sadu Reddy of HMS, A.V. Ramana Rao of BMS and B. Dilli Rao, G. Satya Rao and G. Srinivasa Rao of Contract Labour Union addressed the meeting.

Normal production ensured

Meanwhile, the Steel Plant management said normal production was ensured at all important production units of the plant due to the committed efforts of the employees and some mature trade unions and contract workmen.

A Steel Plant press release said a negligible section of contract labour had abstained from work in response to the strike call given by some contract labour unions.

It was stated that some labourers were taken away from workspots forcibly by some labour unions. The management requested the striking contract labour unions to desist from the strike as the matter is under conciliation with the Deputy Commissioner of Labour.

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