CUDDALORE: NLC workers’ unions have entered into a protest by adhering to ‘work to rule’ from the first shift on Saturday. The unions would announce the decision on strike on July 20, providing 10 days for the management to take call on wage hike.
The two recognised unions of NLC, the Labour Progressive Front (LPF) and Anna Workers and Staff Union, jointly made this announcement at a meeting on Friday night. The unions have been holding various protests demanding the NLC management to agree for an amicable wage revision settlement.
Rama Udhayakumar of Anna Workers and Staff Union said, “In the last talk with the management in Chennai, we have demanded 24 per cent wage hike, but the management has agreed to give only 10 per cent hike. We had already held many rounds of talks with the management but of no avail.”
Udhayakumar further said, “Anna Workers and Staff Union will bring this issue to the notice of the Chief Minister J Jayalalitha. Earlier, when the NLC was under the threat of the Central government’s disinvestment plan, the Chief Minister had solved the problem by offering to purchase of 5 per cent of shares of the NLC. I hope that the Chief Minister will help the NLC workers this time too in getting good wage hike,” he added.
Rajavanniyan of LPF said, “The NLC management had always been citing the court order on not to hold any protests here. Hence, we have decided to stage ‘work to rule’ protest.”