Rayagada: The contract labourers of JK Paper Mills staged a cease work protest Wednesday at Gate No: 2 of the mill, protesting the removal of their banners at the mill.
The contract labourers belonging to the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) alleged that some people, acting as per orders of the company authorities, removed the union’s banners and posters Tuesday. After this almost all contract labourers working in shift-A staged a protest at 7.30 am.
Sources said a conciliatory meeting regarding the 14-point charter of demands of the union was held at the office of the Rayagada Labour Commissioner Monday.
But the meeting remained inconclusive due to the lack of interest of the company authorities, it was alleged. The union then decided to hold a peaceful protest and to cease work.
However, the banners prepared for the protest were removed.
“The cease work strike by labourers held without notice is against the law. A discussion was held with the union at the Labour Commissioner’s office Monday,” said the company’s senior manager Kiran Kumar Nayak.
Police were deployed at the strike site to prevent violence. The labourers staged a protest regarding the removal of the banners and their other demands, SDPO Rajkishore Das said.
PNN