HM trade unions start indefinite hunger strike today

Kolkata, May 1 (UNI) The workers of Hindustan Motor's Uttarpara Unit, under the banner of Sangrami Sramik Karmachari Union, a conglomerate of several trade unions, today started indefinite hunger strike in front of the factory premises.

SSKU president Amitabha Bhattacharya today told UNI that the union would continue the strike until their demands were met.

The SSKU, in a memorandum to the West Bengal government, has mentioned that the certain changes had to be made in the transfer policy.

''We are ready to soften our stand regarding suspension orders against the workers. However, the management should allow the workers to join immediately after the opening of the factory.

Hind Motors Executive VP Moloy Chowdhury said, ''Management is waiting for the government's response. However, we will stick to our earlier stand and hope that the tripartite meeting would bring some fruitful results.'' The standoff between striking unions and the management is six-week-old. The West Bengal Labour Department had stepped in to start conciliation proceedings between the management and the unions.

West Bengal Labour Minister Mrinal Banerjee, in a tripartite meeting, placed a three-point solution to end the HM imbroglio on April 25, but the SSKU turned down the offer.

The tripartite meeting was attended by the HM management, representatives of the SSKU, AITUC and INTUC-affiliated unions, besides, Mr Banerjee on behalf of the state government.

The three-point solution placed by the Labour Minister, include issues like DA, transfer of employees and clearing of pending salaries for the past 44 days.

On April 26, the striking workers had initially put up resistance to the movement of the Tata Motors' equipment fearing that the management would use the opportunity to take out the company's raw materials as well, which led to a police lathi charge.

UNI