At least 10 jute mills are working since the indefinite strike ended by 18 trade unions.
According to a press release issued by the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA), 10 mills have started working as on date. Of the 51 operating mills in West Bengal, the workers of five mills did not join the strike on December 1, 2008 and workers of another five mills were reported to have resumed work from December 2, 2008.
The strike notice was served by 18 trade unions affiliated to INTUC, AITUC, BMS, HMS and others excluding Bengal Chatkal Mazdoor Union affiliated to Citu.
While the trade unions had made financial demands, including payment of increased DA, a section of the unions allowed the workers to report to their duties particularly in the mills which were not paying full wages as per the subsisting industry wide tripartite settlement. The wages of the old jute mill workers had increased to Rs 302 per day inclusive of benefits and above Rs 180 per day for new workers.
Currently increased DA being demanded by the unions amount to an equivalent of 525 points of CPI which works out to Rs 1,400 per month including benefits per worker.
IJMA has stated that this beyond the capacity of any mill to pay.