Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 26: The fortnight long struggle of Gangyal Gun factory workers has made no change in the attitude of owners as the latter today pushed this marginalized class to further margin, unrelenting on any of their demand.
Sources informed Early Times that in order to diffuse the ongoing agitation, a meeting between workers and factory owners was organised by Assistant Labour Commissioner, Jammu, in Gangyal industrial area which began today at 3 pm and lasted 45 minutes.
"Since the very beginning of the meeting the factory owners remained adamant and were unwilling for any settlement with the workers, who are on strike for the last fortnight, demanding 20 per cent hike on payments, monthly salary, tools, cover to all employees under the facility of ESI and EPF," sources said.
They informed that when the meeting was going on, Sanjeev Sharma, owners' union member outrightly rejected the workers' demands, saying that there was slump in the business and there was no demand in the market for guns, so no demand could be conceded.
While contesting the claims of owners, the workers said, "If there is no demand, why these factories are not shut immediately and all the dues of workers cleared without any delay."
Finding themselves in an awkward situation, sources said, the owners thrown another question over the skills of workers and termed them as non-skilled. When the workers, sources said, objected and said, "If non-skilled workers are making guns, it is a violation as per labour law." The workers also said that after furnishing of guns by them, same are forwarded to Kanpur for certification and all guns have been getting certificates, which made it evidently clear that skilled workers have been making guns.
Sources said that once again facing themselves trapped in the counter logics of the workers, the owner union members asked workers to settle their issues personally with their respective owners and call off strike immediately.
"There were at least two representatives from each factory, and all with a pre-planned motive tried to scuttle demands put by workers by throwing illogical viewpoints," they alleged. Due to adamant attitude of the owners, meeting remained inconclusive. Moreover, further making the mockery of agitating workers, the owners sought ten days times from the ALC to rethink over their demands.
When contacted, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Jammu, R K Vaid said that the owners had sought a time of ten days to consider the demands of 20 hike but the demands of Provident Fund, ESI have been conceded in today's meeting.
He said that as per Labour Law, there was no provision of rate revision for the work on contract basis, yet we are trying to sort out the issues amicably. |
