Work on rebuilding the Champakkara bridge as a four-lane one, with Kochi metro viaduct hovering over it, has been halted for the past four days following the alleged interference by two prominent trade unions.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials said their contractor, Mary Matha Constructions, had to abruptly halt work after CITU and INTUC unions demanded that 50% of the workforce be recruited from among workers attached to the two unions.
“They want 50% representation in every sphere of work. This is just not practicable since metro workers – most of whom are labourers / supervisors from other States – have an entirely different work culture than that of local workers. Already, 20% of the workforce are trade union workers,” the officials said.
Skilled labour
Recently, piling got over on one side of the existing bridge. “Pile capping and superstructure work demand skilled labour. Local workers affiliated to trade unions are not skilled for such tasks. Yet, our contractors engaged in bridge and metro viaduct work on the Maharaja’s College Ground-Thykoodam stretch have employed ample number of union workers for unskilled tasks like tying steel rods. This, despite the fact that their productivity is less than half of that of migrant workers. On their part, the contractors are citing undue wastage of money,” they added.
Such interference by unions will hamper efforts to complete a good share of civil work before the monsoon season, DMRC officials said.
Meanwhile, Kettida Nirmana Thozhilali Union Vyttila area secretary Mani N.A. said there was an agreement between trade unions and Builders’ Association of India on deploying union workers at work sites. “We have sought deployment of workers based on the agreement. We did not disrupt work. We are open to talks with the firm on the issue,” he said.
