KOCHI: Synthite Employees’ Welfare Association (SEWA) Secretary Jayan R said more than 500 employee families will lose their livelihood option if the plant remains shut. “Even after the District Collector’s order to ensure protection to employees, the police are remaining mute spectators to the blockade and violence unleashed on the employees,” said Jayan. SEWA, which is not affiliated to any political party, represents 80 per cent of the 500 workers at the Synthite’s Kadayiruppu unit.
SIEU (CITU) president K S Arunkumar said they were awaiting the conciliatory talks called on Wednesday. However, he added the blockade will continue if management refuses to cancel the decision to transfer the 18 staff. The transfer of the employees on May 30 had triggered a flash strike on Sunday. The blockade organised as part of the strike had turned violent with many employees being manhandled and several vehicles destroyed.
The protestors barred some 400 employees from entering the factory premises on Monday, which resulted in the functioning of the plant coming to a grinding halt. Synthite management said it is unfortunate these activities are taking place close on the heels of Chief Minister’s statement underscoring Kerala’s USP as an ‘investor- friendly’ state. Synthite has been operating in Kerala since 1972 and has the track record of being an largely ‘employee-friendly’ company, it said.