Jute mill workers begin indefinite strike in Bengal

Kolkata, Jan 5 (UNI) About 2.5 lakh jute mill workers in West Bengal today went on an indefinite strike called by 15 trade unions with a 14-point charter of demands.

The strike called by 15 trade unions, including those affiliated to INTUC, CITU and AITUC, was called demanding among other things, payment of outstanding gratuity, bonus, dearness allowance and ESI.

A tripartite meeting, called by Labour Minister Mrinal Banerjee yesterday, failed to resolve the deadlock.

Five trade unions did not join the strike, while barring New Central Jute Mill, which is run by workers, the strike affected 55 jute mills across the country.

The striking workers picketed in front of most of the jute mills and shouted slogans in support of their demands decrying the stand of the owners.

Claiming the strike was peaceful, CITU-backed Bengal Chatkal Mazdoor Union General Secretary Gobinda Guha blamed mill owners for ''forcing'' the workers to stop work. ''We did not have any other way as the management refused to accept any of our demands. We would not have gone for a strike even if the workers were paid the outstanding dearness allowance,'' he told UNI.

The last strike in the jute industry continued for nine days in 2004 before the unions agreed to productivity-linked wages.

UNI