Protest at factory: Chill taking toll on workers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 20

As the dharna by members of the Jagatjit Industries Democratic Workers Union entered its 15th day at Hamira here on Monday, over six protesters were admitted to a nearby hospital after their health deteriorated due to extreme cold.

The protesters have been braving extreme weather conditions to put pressure on the factory owner to accept their demand. They have been demanding a hike in their salaries and bonus.

Kashmir Singh Ghugshore from the Pendu Mazdoor Union said the jobs were the only source of livelihood of workers, in the absence of which it would be difficult for them to make ends meet.

Avtar Singh Tari, state secretary of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), and Gurpreet Singh Cheeda from Dashmesh Fauj Rangretta Dal Punjba said the protesters were demanding 50 per centre increase in present salaries, 20 per cent raise along with bonus, end of contractual system.

There were about 3,000 contractual workers in the factory, they said. They said factory gates were closed on November 15 and had not been reopened since then, hitting livelihood of workers.