NLC contract workers deny resuming strike

Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, Apr 11 (UNI) The contract workers of the public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) today denied the media reports that they have resumed their strike and demanded regularisation of the services.

Jeeva Contract Workers Union General Secretary K Venkatesan told UNI that ''it is nothing but false news. All of us have returned to duty on April five based on the assurances given by the Union and State Governments that the issue can be resolved through talks.'' Stating that the NLC contract workers have been on an agitational path since March 29, demanding implementation of their 13-point charter of demands, including regularisation of services, he welcomed the management's announcement of 8.33 per cent bonus to the contract workers yesterday and Union Minister of State for Coals Santosh Bagrodia calling the NLC Chairman to Delhi for talks on the issue on April 15.

Mr Venkatesan said senior CPI leader D Raja had met the Union Minister and discussed the issue in detail, based on which the Minister had convened the meeting.

Condemning the NLC management's move to get a stay on the Supreme Court order directing regularisation of contract workers yesterday, he termed it as ''shocking and an attempt to hoodwink the contract workers.'' The trade unionist said the future course of action would be chalked out based on the outcome of the April 15 talks.

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