The Hindu : Kerala News : Hindalco staff plan protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Hindalco staff plan protest

Staff Reporter

Against failure of management to reopen smelter unit

KOCHI: Employees of the aluminium company Hindalco, formerly Indal, will embark on a 48-hour dharna from February 28 before the company gate at Alupuram to protest against the failure of the management to reopen the smelter unit of the company that is remaining closed for the past 30 months.

They will start an indefinite strike there from March 2. On March 3, children of Hindalco employees will do paintings on the topic `the crisis facing the industrial sector'.

It has also been planned to submit memoranda to the Chief Minister, Power Minister and the Industries Minister on the issue.

The employees met at the Hindalco Community Hall at Alupuram, near here on Tuesday, to declare a programme of protest action.

The smelter unit was closed in August 2003 and 262 employees were advised to stay at home as the company management claimed that it was financially unviable to operate the unit in the face of rising electricity charges.

The Hindalco employees contended that the price of aluminium in the international market had gone up to $2,650 a tonne from the 2003 price of 1,450.

Government help sought

Considering the situation, the employees appealed to the State Government to intervene with the Hindalco management to reopen the smelter unit.

"The time is good for aluminium business and the Government should make use of this opportunity," said K.N. Gopinath, general convener of the Save Hindalco Samithy, the banner under which employees affiliated to various trade unions have come together on the issue.

The Hindalco employees also alleged that instead of taking steps to reopen the smelter unit, the company management might shift it out of Kochi.

The State Government should mediate to prevent the company from shifting the smelter unit out of Kochi and pave the way for its reopening, said Mr. Gopinath.

Tuesday's meeting was inaugurated by K. Chandran Pillai, MP. Sebastian Paul, MP, presided.

K. Babu and K. Mohammed Ali, MLAs, Gopi Kottamurikkal, CPI(M) district secretary, K.P. Dhanapalan, DCC president, as well as trade union leaders K. Vijayan Pillai, N.K. Mohandas, K.P. Haridas and K.A. Chackochan spoke.

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