A battery of meetings have been fixed for the coming week as the Centre swings into action to try resolve the jute strike in West Bengal. The strike entered its 54th day on Saturday.
At the end of the week, the textile minister and the labour minister are also expected to attend meetings in New Delhi to end the strike which has severely affected the livelihoods of 2.5 lakh workmen employed in the 50 jute mills in West Bengal. Only two mills, including one with a trade union affiliated to the Trinamool Congress, are not participating in the strike called by 20 central trade unions.
The strike was called from December 14 to press for various demands including payment of dearness allowance arrears and implementation of earlier accords.