TNCES serves strike notice to Arasu Cement Corp on Bonus

Ariyalur, Sep 18 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Cement Employees Sammelanam (TNCES), affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress, has served a strike notice to the state-owned Arasu Cement Corporation, seeking a 20 per cent Deepavali bonus on a par with employees of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Aavin, and TASMAC.

In a representation to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a copy of which was made available to the press here today, Sammelanam Secretary Dhandapan, pointed that over the years, Arasu Cements had exceeded the production target of five lakh tonnes.

The production stood at 108.30 per cent during 2002-02, 118.41 per cent in 2003-04, 114 per cent in 2004-05, 105.37 per cent in 2005-06 and 106.62 per cent in 2006-07, he said.

He said the factory had posted a profit of Rs 24 crore in 2007-08, despite the State procuring the entire production of 5,32,800 tonnes at Rs 1,000 a tonne (Rs 50 lesser than in the open market).

Though the company was running on profit, the denial of equitable bonus was perplexing, he said adding the employees were not given bonus in 2005-06 when 8.33 per cent was given to employees of other government undertakings. In 2005-06, they got only 10 per cent compared to 20 per cent given to workers of other state-run companies and in 2006-07, they were given 15 per cent.

The Sammelanam also demanded promotion for employees stagnating in the same grade for several years, priority in housing for the married employees, filling of vacancies, Deepavali festival advance of Rs 6,500, medical facilities for retired employees, among other things.

UNI RV ROY 1308