A conflict between the management and workers of the Regency Ceramics Limited, the factory under lockout from the last three years following an outbreak of industrial violence in January, 2012, has forced 147 cattle to starve for the last four days. There is no one to provide fodder and water to the buffalos, cows and calves that were being taken care of the management of the industrial unit.
The main gate of the ceramics factory was locked and the estranged workers were sitting outside on a dharna demanding payment of salaries for the months of November and December, 2011, which were in pending with the management for quite a long time. The workers approached the police last week and sought justice to them and the police made a futile attempt to resolve the issue in an amicable manner. However, non-payment of the salaries by the management has irked the workers and seems to have made them prevent the entry of cattle-rearers on to the premises.
“The cattle are with me for the last two decades and they have no fodder and water for the last four days. Some of the cattle are in dying state now,” G.N. Naidu, chairman of the Regency Ceramics Limited told The Hindu on Monday. Holding the police responsible for the starvation of the cattle, Mr. Naidu accused the workers of getting support from the police in preventing the entry of cattle rearers engaged by him into the factory premises.
‘Provocative gesture’“The factory has to pay salaries for two months to 550 works amounting to Rs. 55 lakh. Instead of resolving the issue in an amicable manner, the management resorted to provoke us,” said A.V.V. Satyanarayana (Wilson), secretary of the Regency Staff and Workers Union. “Before making it clear that we are not going to allow anyone into the factory premises, we have suggested the management to relocate the cattle. Instead of making alternate arrangements, the management tried to use the issue to blame the workers,” he added.
When Mr. Naidu brought the issue to the notice of the higher officials on Monday, arrangements were being made on a war-footing to rescue the animals. When contacted, Yanam Superintendent of Police Datla Vamsidhar Reddy ruled the involvement of the police in the entire episode. “The issue is between the management and the workers and the police have no role to play with regard to the cattle. After all, the factory is under the guard of the security personnel hired by the management,” Mr. Reddy said.
