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Bengal jute TUs to go on strike

Our Bureau

KOLKATA, Dec. 12

THE indefinite strike called by 18 central trade unions of the jute industry in West Bengal is likely to push this age-old and ailing sector into a major crisis during the first fortnight of next year.

Trade unions leaders hailing from all sections of the political spectrum are meeting on Thursday to hand over the strike notice to the State Government and the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA). The strike will be called from January 7 next year.

The trade unions are demanding an immediate revision of the wage structure, payment of all bonus dues, regularisation of temporary workers, payment of their statutory dues, and also objecting to the governments move to privatise National Jute Manufacture s Corporation Ltd (NJMC).

Talking to Business Line, Mr Debasish Dutta, Secretary of the Federation of Chatkal Mazdoor Union, said most of these were legitimate dues. We have also asked for immediate implementation of the increase in dearness allowance. It is sad that we are force d to call a strike on such legitimate demands, he said.

It may be noted that the 59-mill strong jute industry in West Bengal has been going through a rough patch for quite some time. Currently, 57 mills are operational and they employ about 2.5 lakh workers. Of these workers, about 40,000 are temporary.

On several occasions, the mill owners have also failed to clear regularly statutory payments such as provident fund, ESI and gratuity.

However, the present financial scenario is mostly against the mill owners because the market for jute goods are regularly shrinking and the costs are increasing.