Goods transportation from Pampa to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam was partially hit on Thursday due to shortage of trade union (TU) workers for loading and unloading works.
According to the tractor owners, as many as 70 tractors ply on the Pampa-Sannidhanam road for goods transportation and it requires not less than 200 workers for loading and unloading works daily.
The trade union intervention started at Sabarimala during the previous pilgrim season. As per an agreement reached at a meeting called by the District Labour Officer last year, the trade unions and the tractor contractors had agreed to engage one worker each belonging to both parties to accompany a tractor from Pampa to the Sannidhanam for the unloading works.
But, the tractor owners alleged that paucity of trade union workers had become a major problem in Pampa as many of them had gone for other works at Pampa and Nilackal where they get higher rates through bargain.
There were allegations that certain trade union workers even demanded exorbitant wage from the tractor owners.
The charge for loading and unloading of goods transported in a tractor had been fixed at ₹300. But, certain workers demand ₹400, which the tractor owners were reluctant to pay, Ramachandran, a trader at Pampa, said.
TDB concern
Meanwhile, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said the slowdown by trade union workers had badly affected the transportation of jaggery to the holy hillock as well as production of Aravana and Appam.
Mr. Gopalakrishnan had sought immediate intervention of the government to address the issue.
CITU leader clarifies
However, CITU leader S. Haridas said the charges levelled by the tractor owners were baseless.
He said the authorities should take steps to ensure the safety of workers. Two workers were injured when an overloaded tractor fell into a deep ditch on Tuesday.
Sasikumar, a tractor owner, told The Hindu that the tractor owners were not in a position to engage their own workers for the loading and unloading work.
