This Article is From Jun 04, 2012

Contract workers strike called off after talks

Cuddalore: The 44-day old strike by around 13000 contract workers of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) pressing their demands including regularisation was called off on Sunday following an agreement reached between the trade unions and the management at a tripartite talks convened by the Centre, a top company official and a union leader said.

At the talks held in Chennai by the Chief Labour Commissioner NR Prasad, NLC management agreed to include about 5000 contract workers in a cooperative society that would entitle them to various incentives including cash benfits and pave the way for regularisation of service in future, NLC Chief General Manager (Human Resources) M Maheswaran said.

Representatives of NLC and trade unions -- AITUC, DMK, CITU and six others -- participated in the meeting, Maheswaran told PTI.

H Mahadevan, Deputy General Secretary of AITUC, spearheading the strike since April 21, said the settlement was reached amicably and the workers would resume work from tonight itself.

Consequent to the agreement, a total of 4027 contract workers reported for the 10 pm night shift at the three lignite mines and three thermal power stations and transport wing, NLC Deputy Manager (Personnel) A Baskaran told PTI.

Maheswaran said that about 5000 contract workmen would be inducted in NLC Industrial Cooperative Society, whose membership is essential to be absorbed as permanent employee in the cadre of industrial workman-2.

The workers of the public sector lignite giant have been on strike demanding equal pay for equal work and regularisation of their services among others. This was the 14th conciliatory talks held to end the strike after earlier rounds held in Neyveli, Cuddalore, Puducherry and Chennai.

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