The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Longest lockout in jute mill likely to last for a while

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Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Longest lockout in jute mill likely to last for a while

Santosh Patnaik

Union trying for a negotiated settlement on the conditions imposed by management

The mill had the distinction of former President V.V. Giri leading its union once
The mill engages 4,000 permanent and badli workers and 1200 apprentices

VISAKHAPATNAM: With no solution in sight in near future, the lockout in Chitavalasah Jute Mills – the longest one in its long history – is likely to last for sometime. The mill which has a history of over 80 years also had the distinction of former President of India V.V. Giri leading its union once. The talks held recently with the INTUC affiliated recognised union and the management in Hyderabad failed to yield a positive response. The lockout was declared under the garb of power cuts on April 20. The earlier record was in 1996 when the lockout lasted for nearly six months.

Varahala Raju, president of the recognised union, said they were trying for a negotiated settlement on the conditions imposed by the management for lifting the lockout.

The 16 conditions it imposed as a pre-requisite for opening the mill mostly have financial implications benefiting the management to cut down the cost of operation.

He said whatever the management offered to them for an amicable settlement, they would publish in the form of a leaflet and distribute it among the workers. Only after a mandate from the workers, they would express their consent for the management’s offer, he said.

The recognised union agreed for increase in canteen rates but opposed introduction of productivity linked wages. The conditions laid down by the management include reduction from three to two shifts a day, reduction in wages and non-implementation of enhanced DA.

The mill with a capacity to produce 90 tonnes per day engages 4,000 permanent and badli workers and 1200 apprentices.

“The Kolkata-based management is declaring lockouts without any provocation whenever there is not much work. As it is a labour-intensive industry, the management uses the lockouts just to avoid cost towards labour despite earning profit on the whole,” A. Ajay Sarma, CITU district secretary said.

The management has challenged the GO declaring the lockout illegal vide GO Rt. No. 1265 dated August 20. The GO prohibited continuation of the lockout and asked the management to lift it immediately.

S. Ramesh, president, CJM Mechanical Workers & Workers Union, asked the management to lift the lockout in the larger interest of the workers.

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