Jute mill workers go on catcall strike

Barrackpore, May 30 (UNI) A section of the daily rated workers of the spinning department of a jute mill at Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas district went on a catcall strike, protesting the assault of one of their colleagues allegedly by a department head today.

The strike virtually stopped the mill's production for the day, as new casual workers joined the striking group, CITU affiliated workers union sources said.

The union leaders had decided to talk to the authorities to settle the issue as the striking workers, specially bobbin setters, had demanded the reduction of workload set by the mill authorities.

The bobbin setters alleged that though there was a shortage of bobbins, but the authorities compelled them to fulfill the job targets, failing which their salaries were deducted.

They further alleged that departmental heads not only misbehaved with them, but were also manhandled and assaulted them on many occasions.

The bobbin setters demanded the removal of time board and measuring gadget from the spinning department and stop the torturing of the workers.

There were nearly 700 workers of different status work in the spining department, while the mill had about 2500 workers.

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