WHILE protesting delay in wage revision workers in various shops of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) on Saturday morning went on tool-strike over the delay in wage revision and attitude of management towards other long pending demands. As per the plant officials the protestors were convinced to continue work after discussion with BSP’s top management. On Saturday morning, the workers from various modex units including Universal Rail Mill (URM), Bar and Rod Mill (BRM) and Blast Furnace-8 (BF-8) in BSP staged a tool-down strike while protesting unprecedented delay in wage revision. S P Dey, General Secretary, Hindustan Steel Employees Union (CITU) informed that the resentment is brewing up among workers and the tool-down strike was outcome of it, as the wage revision is unreasonably delayed owing to stubborn attitude of the management.

 

The workers are toiling day and night in various unit under SAIL even amid spread of pandemic and involved life risk, but the callous attitude of management towards interests of workers is leading to such situation. The incident brought to fore that the youth brigade in the plant is not ready to compromise at all levels and such protest may surface repeatedly in future to get fulfilled rightful demands. PR Department BSP, officials informed that some employees staged a protest in URM demanding wage revision. They were assured that they will get a chance to talk to top management. They were asked to refrain from overcrowding during the current COVID situation rather solve the issue through a dialogue. The wage revision is a Central issue and is under discussion by NJCS.

 

The employee’s facilities and benefits are related to the Profit of the Company. Hence, disrupting production is not suitable. Bhilai is known for its positive work culture and it has a tradition of solving issues through dialogue and discussion. All of us must retain this positive culture. Hence, all employees are urged to execute their work with utmost commitment and stay away from indiscipline. The protest by young employees at URM, BRM did not affect production. During the month of April, scheduled maintenance is undertaken in different departments in the Plant. Accordingly, URM and BRM were taken under scheduled maintenance, thereby not hampering production in any way. Employees in BF 8 and SMS 3 indicatively took up the issue of Wage revision with their respective HoDs. The protest at BSP came to an end after discussion with the top management. The protestors assured BSP management that in case of any production loss due to their activities they will work extra in the coming days to compensate for the same.