Karnataka - Mysore   

Wipro Limited employees’ strike enters 70th day

Mysore: Over 300 employees including permanent and contract workers of Wipro Limited (Lighting Division) at Hootagalli, which started production in 1999 to manufacture and market lighting products, have launched an indefinite strike on October 27. The workers are demanding an increase in basic wages and other subsidiary benefits, including raise in HRA, LTA, canteen facilities besides welfare measures. About 100 employees are actively participating in the agitation.

According to H.R. Sheshadri, president, Mysore Division Industrial Workers’ General Union (MDIWGU), several rounds of talks that have been held between the management and the workers to find an “amicable’ settlement” have failed.

The strike has claimed one life already. Hanumantha Shetty (43) who had served the industry for nearly 18 years committed suicide on November 24 as he could not maintain his 12-member family because of ongoing strike. The management paid compensation of Rs. 3 lakh for the family of the deceased.

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) will take out a procession from Town Hall on Friday and hold demonstration against the apathy of the management to sort out the issue and to urge the Government to intervene in the matter, said Mr. Sheshadri

Six conciliation meetings were held after suicide of Hanumantha Shetty to settle the row. Company president Sunil Agarwal and vice-president Pramod Mathme attended two meetings and stated that due to economic slowdown they cannot honour demands of workers, he said. However, the management quoted a figure that was not acceptable to the employees because of the spiralling prices of essential commodities, he added. “We are aware of the impact of recession and understand the constraints being faced by the company in honouring the commitment. The figure quoted was not even matching with what was discussed in the meeting with Chamundeshwari MLA Sathyanarayana”, he regretted.

He said that the MDIWGU was not rigid and it was concerned about the workers who were facing additional problems because of the strike. The union will appreciate immediate intervention of the Government in the matter, he added.

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