An industrial strike in Pydibhimavaram turned violent on Friday when agitating workers tried to forced their way into Dr. Reddy's Laboratory (DRL) alleging that the management had been indifferent to their problems despite their struggle for the last three months.
Police lobbed teargas shells and resorted to a lathicharge to quell the unrest but could not restore normalcy in the vicinity of the factory. Several workers, three constables and reporter of a television news channel, were injured in the tussle and were rushed to the hospital. As many as 10,000 workers of 25 factories in the industrial belt of Etcherla, Ranasthalam and Pydibhimavaram participated in the protest to express solidarity with contract workers and regular staff of DRL.
CITU district general secretary D. Govindarao demanded enhancement of the wages of contract workers from Rs. 5,000 to Rs.12, 000 and cancellation of transfer orders of 16 senior executives.
Former Minister Tammineni Seetharam, MLC M. V. S, Sarma, CPI(M) district secretary Chowdary Tejeswara Rao and CPI (M-L) New Democracy leader Tandra Prakash alleged that the management was deducting Rs.14,000 per year from each worker in various forms and collecting employer's share of PF contribution from workers. Tension prevailed from the morning itself with the heavy deployment of police force. Srikakulam DSP L. Arjun tried for a negotiated settlement but in vain as both sides stuck to their guns.
However, talks will be held in the presence of Additional Joint Collector T. Baburao Naidu on Saturday.
The CITU leaders made it clear that they would intensify the agitation if justice was not done to the workers.
