CUDDALORE: Following the stalemate in resolving the bonus issue, the contract labourers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation have decided to intensify their strike.

Expressing their solidarity with them, the regular employees too have proposed to observe one-day token strike between November 20 and 24, which would be finalised after consulting with Labour Progressive Front and after holding a joint meeting of the trade unions of both the categories of employees, according to V. Mutuvel, president of the CITU. Meanwhile, a section of workers turned emotional when they sighted a NLC official inspecting Mine-II. They gathered around his jeep and gheraoed him for some time, before letting him go. Strong police picketing has been posted on the NLC premises, in addition to the Central Industrial Security Forces.

Six unions of contract labourers on Friday met in Neyveli to take stock of the situation arising out of the outright rejection of their bonus demand. Kuppuswamy, secretary of the AITUC, who participated in the talks held in Chennai on Friday, termed it as disappointing. Mr. Kuppuswamy further said 13 trade unions of the regular employees too had expressed solidarity with the labourers.

They had proposed to boycott the canteen and wear black badges until a solution was found to the stalemate.

However, the Deputy Commissioner of Labour Prabhakaran was continuing his efforts to resolve the issue.

Mining operations hit

The AITUC leader further said the strike on its fourth day had affected the operation in the mines. However, the power generation was at present pegged at around 1900 MW, as against the full capacity of 2490 MW.

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