STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: More than 400 workers working in gun factories situated in the area of Ashok Nagar Satwari, Jammu on Monday held a protest.
The union submitted its demand notice to the President of Employer’s Association with the stipulated time period prior to go on strike but the management did not called the workers’ representatives for negotiation on their demands. Therefore, the workers had no alternative except to go on strike.
The workers have been continuing protesting in front of Factories gate. The demands of the union are implementation of minimum wage according to SRO of Government of Jammu and Kashmir, providing tools to the workers for manufacturing of guns, to cover all workers under ambit of EPF and ESI Acts, providing attendance card to all workers, regular entry (month-wise) of EPF in pass book and 20 per cent increase on wage every year.
While addressing the workers, H.D Bhomick, President of the Union, said that the workers are being paid at the rate of Rs.500 per piece even he uses his own tools in all gun factories of Jammu while workers working in gun factories in Kashmir valley are being paid at the rate of Rs.1200 per piece with the tools provided by the employers.
He appealed to the Govt to investigate into the matter as to why the gross exploitation met with the Jammu workers.
Om Parkash, General Secretary, State Committee of CITU criticized the management of the factories of being denial of all the legitimate benefits to the poor workers like EPF and ESI and issuance of attendance cards to workers. He appealed to the Govt in general and Labour Department in particular to pressurize the employers to negotiate with the union and cover all workers under labour laws.
He supported the striking workers and appealed them to intensify and continue their struggle until and unless their demands are acceded to.
Sham Prasad Kesar, Senior leader of CITU lamented that workers are working on piece rate in very sensitive factory but they are exploiting by the employers under the nose of law enforcement machinery.
Other spoke on the occasion were Baba Ram, Kailash Chander, Sanju Sharma, Ajay Shah, Deepak Sharma, Suraj Sharma and Sambhu Sharma.
