Jute units urge govt to prevent indifinite strike

Fearing huge losses and a further dilution in jute packaging and materials Act, the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) has urged the central government to prevent the proposed indefinite strike in the industry from December 29.

"The strike will completely cut off the supply line, which will create a situation detrimental not only to the industry but also to the workers and the growers," IJMA chairman Sanjay Kajaria said in a letter to Union textiles minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.

Kajaria urged Hussain to discuss the matter with West Bengal chief minister and request him to dissuade the trade unions from striking. The strike would deal a death blow to the industry, Kajaria said.

Fifteen trade unions, including Citu and INTUC, had threatened to go on an indefinite strike on December 1 to press for their eight demands, including payment of DA from February 2002, implementation of tri-partite agreement dated January 5, 2002, with revision.

They are also demanding that bonus for the year 2002-03 be paid, denationalisation of NMJC mills be stopped, hiring of contract labour for perennial jobs be stopped, dilution in JPMA be halted, all dues such as PF, ESI, gratuity should not be outstanding beyond more than six months.