Political parties and trade unions have called for a day's general strike in Cuddalore district on Tuesday (October 19) in support of the striking contract workmen of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, according to T. Velmurugan, Pattali Makkal Katchi MLA.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Mr. Velmurugan said that it was almost a month since the 13,000 contract workmen had gone on an indefinite strike. Yet, the NLC management had not conceded their 10-point charter of demands that included regularisation and equal wage for equal work.
The MLA said that the strike would be conducted in a peaceful manner, without causing any hindrance to essential services. If the NLC management comes out with an agreeable solution by Monday they would review the strike proposal.
Financial crisis
Mr. Velmuguran noted that the ongoing strike had pushed the workmen's families, with a total membership of about one lakh, into financial crisis. Despite many provocations, that included the repressive measures adopted by the NLC management, the workmen had been voicing their protests in a peaceful manner.
However, Mr. Velmurugan said that if the management continued to remain indifferent to their demands they might be forced to deviate from the democratic path. He alleged that the contract workmen were treated as bonded labourers and they were subjected to repressive measures at the hands of Central Industrial Security Forces and the police. For instance, when the security personnel could not find trade union leader Ukkiravel at his residence they harassed his wife and children, the MLA alleged.
He further said that even though facing starvation the workmen never disrupted mining operation and power generation. Yet, the management had brought in raw hands to work in the mines, exposing them to danger. Through distribution of handbills the political parties and the trade unions were pleading with them not to put their life to risk.
By taking up the issue with the Centre, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had conveyed the message that the recent pact signed by the NLC with the Labour Progressive Front was neither just nor adequate.
Besides raising the issue on the floor of the Assembly, Mr. Velmurugan said he had now succeeded in bringing the political parties (excepting the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) on a single platform.
