- Century workers’ relay fast in Indore enters second day!
- Demanding Century management to comply with Industrial Tribunal’s order and open the gates of the mills!
The Satyagraha by the thousand workers of Century Yarn/denim mills for ensuring the employment has reached a new stage. The 500 days struggle of the workers has already compelled the management to cancel the fraudulent Business Transfer Agreement between Century and Wearit, after the orders by the Tribunal as well as the M.P. High Court. When the 4 unions with a few members with them, decided to opt for VRS, against the workers’ wishes, the majority workers decided and formed a separate union ‘Shramik Janata Sangh’.
After the Tribunal’s order dated 06.02.2019 the Century managememt was directed to pay the remaining wages of 2.5 months from October, 2017 to December, 2017. But when the majority workers filed an application before the Ld. Labour Commissioner regarding payment of all the remaining wages, from October, 2017 to April, 2018 the management buckled to workers’ unity and force, and on February 25th deposited the wages of this period plus the bonus for October, 2017 to March, 2018. In addition to this, the Tribunal also directed the management to open the gates and allow the workers to enter the mills.
Yesterday it was already 20 days and management has not complied with that. That’s why the workers have started an indefinite relay fast in front of the Labour Commissioner’s office, demanding the management to open the gates of the mills, as per the order of the Tribunal and let the workers start atleast cleaning and maintenance, if not production, in order to prevent the irreparable damage to the machinery. Also, the overwhelming majority of workers are demanding that if Century is not able to run the mills on their own, then as per their written letters to the unions and affidavits filed before the Tribunal, they should transfer the mills to workers’s organisation at 1 Re /- and let them run the mills. The 90% majority of workers are today, having taken advice and consultancy from various experts across the country, ready to take the mills and run them profitably.
Yesterday on the first day, senior journalist Chinmay Mishra ji, Father Binoy from Tamil Nadu and social worker Ramswaroop Mantri ji from Indore came and extended support to the relay fast. Chinmay ji emphasized on the strength of Satyagrah and said it’s because of the struggle of the unified workers that today Century management has bowed down and workers are winning every battle one by one. Chinmay ji also questioned the position of the unions and said it’s really very disappointing that the unions, whose vision and goal should be to stand for the rights and will of the workers, are today standing against the majority of them. Father Binoy expressed gratitude for the chance given to join the struggle and said all the struggles across the country whether it’s in Tamil Nadu or in Madhya Pradesh, have common issues of deprivation to displacement from livelihood. In this era, it is very important for us to fight for our rights. Ramswaroop ji extended the support to the worker’s struggle on behalf of the socialist unity of M.P.. He warned Century management to comply with the orders of the Tribunal otherwise the spark of this struggle will spread to the whole state and workers from various parts will stand for them in solidarity. He also demanded the Commissioner’s office to intervene in this matter urgently in favour of the workers and help them avail of their rights and ensure justice.
The next hearing in the Tribunal on the original application is scheduled on 18th of March, 2019.
The Avahan Satyagraha continues with an appeal to the new government of Madhya Pradesh to take a stand and resolve the conflict and end the dispute by ensuring compliance and employment to the workers in struggle.
Sanjay Chouhan Durgesh Khavse Shyam Bhadane Naveen Mishra
Contact- Saurav – 8287509616 , Sanjay Chouhan – 9098662253
