SAIL management should call for early NJCS meeting: SETU

Rourkela: Steel Employees’ Trade Union (SETU), affiliated to CITU and SWFI discussed various problems of the workers of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) at its 12^th Conference at Shramik Bhawan here today.

Inaugurating the conference, State General Secretary, CITU and President of SETU Bishnu Mohanty came down heavily on the UPA Government for steep hike in the price of diesel and restrictions on supply of subsidized LPG cylinders to domestic consumers.

“The rise in fuel price will have adverse impact on the prices of essential commodities which would have cascading effect on the common man”, he added.

He urged upon the RSP management to provide basic facilities for the workers in term of wage settlement, medical facilities, E-payment services, working hours, perks and benefits, profit sharing scheme, house maintenance expenses, energy allowance, fringe benefits, annual increment, up-gradation of pay scale, incentive and reward scheme, leave, live cover scheme, educational loans and employment of the dependent.

He also informed that various trade union leaders of Rourkela have urged for an early meeting of the National Joint Committee for Steel (NJCS) Industry.

It may be noted that the term of wage agreement for the employees of the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) dated 29^th April, 2010 has expired since 31^st December, 2011 after completion of the five years from 1^st January, 2007.

Since the term of new settlement which was to be effective from 1^st January, 2012 has been delayed, representatives of Central trade unions like HMS, INTUC, AICTU and CITU have been urging the SAIL authority since last six months to finalize the new pay scale.

However, no steps have been taken by the SAIL authority till date.

In this connection, the trade unions had submitted a charter of demands for wage settlement with effect from January, 2012 to December, 2016 to the CEO, RSP on 21^st October 2011. However, there is no response from the latter.

“Resentment is growing among the non-executive employees of SAIL. While the SAIL executives in the name of Performance Related Pay (PRP) get huge benefit, the workers have been demanding for few thousands of rupees increase in their pay scale. Due to this prevailing disparity, the difference between workers and executives of SAIL is widening,” Mohanty pointed out.

The trade union leaders threatened to intensify their agitations if the SAIL authority fails to finalize the pay scale soon. Mohanty also said that SAIL workers are getting fewer wage in comparison to other PSUs like NTPC, NALCO and CIL etc.

“Considering the above, the SAIL authority must look into the matter in priority basis to resolve the anomalies among the various PSU workers”, he demanded.

The strength of workers is reducing every year, he said, adding that the present workers’ strength is 15,000 in comparison to an earlier strength of 40,000.

Besides, Mohanty also urged the SAIL management to keep bio-data, service record, and bank account number of all contract workers to prevent them from exploitation by the contractors. “Recruitment of contract workers must be based on acceptable norms for maintaining transparency in contract workers recruitment and administration”, he observed.

Besides Mohanty, other leaders like Muralidhar Parija, Biman Maity, Basanta Nayak, Surendra Mohanty, P C Swain, Suresh Beuria and Anita Ray also spoke. Among others, Basudev Sahoo, Rajkishore Pradhan, Ajay Sharma, S Minz and Sangram Samal were present.