CPI leader D Raja today called on Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal and sought his intervention in the ongoing workers' strike at Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NCL) Limited over wage revision.
CPI national secretary Raja requested Goyal to consider the "justified" demands of the protesting workers and demanded that "repressive" dismissal orders issued against them for calling the strike be revoked "immediately".
"I told him the workers' demands are justified and demanded that order relating dismissal of workers must be revoked. Goyal must intervene for meaningful negotiations and tell the management to break the deadlock.
"The minister said he will speak to the management and assured that there will be one more round of negotiations held in a few days," Raja said after the meeting.
On reports of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, Raja questioned "what has been the result for the employees".
"The chief minister claims she has written a letter to the Prime Minister. But what is the response? Nothing. Then what is the point in talking about the letter?" he asked.
Around 13,000 regular employees of NLC are on a strike since July 20 demanding wage revision. The unions are demanding 24 per cent increase in wages while NLC has agreed to give only 10 per cent.
Employees associated with 13 trade unions including CITU, AITUC and INTUC called the strike in the wake of failed talks between them and NLC management.
