Steel workers strike continue on sixth day for implementation of labour laws
11 June 2014, New Delhi: Workers of Wazirpur hot rolling steel plants continued to strike work for the sixth day under the leadership of Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti. It should be noted that despite there being a labour court adjoining the industrial area in Nimri colony, labour laws are being flouted openly here. In the Wazirpur Industrial area, there are about 600 factories for steel production. It is not uncommon for workers here to have their hands bruised or cut during work. They work in extremely inhuman conditions. This is how profit is being accumulated.
Office of Provident Fund is in Wazirpur itself. But hardly any worker receives the facility of Provident Fund. On 6th June, about 2000 workers rallied in the area and declared the beginning of their strike. Today, almost all steel line factories in Blocks A & B of the area remained shut. A peaceful rally was carried out, after which workers gathered in Raja Park for a meeting. About 1500 workers participated in this meeting.
Ambika, a worker and member of the Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti, addressing the meeting said that the prices of basic commodities have risen. Though wages are hiked on papers, but factory owners and contractors flout all labour laws. Workers slog for 12 hours every day for a monthly payment of Rs. 8000 only. Basic facilities of Provident Fund and ESI are not implemented. Labour Department is only playing the role of a silent spectator to the exploitation of workers. It is therefore that, the workers have decided that they will not remain silent anymore to this exploitation. That the workers will fight for their rights.
In order to weaken the strike, factory owners have registered a false FIR against the leaders of this protest. Sunny from Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti remarked that Police, instead of favouring the factory owners, should first arrest the owners who are violating all norms. He also said that this strike is not just for the workers from hot roller steel plants, but also for the workers of cold roller steel plants, steel line, rickshaw pullers and others who are part of the industry in this area. This victory of this strike will result in improvement of conditions of all workers of this area. It will also be a guiding light for workers of other industries in other areas.
Raghuraj from the Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti, alerted workers of any rumours or of pimps, and called upon all of them to remain united.
The protest has received support from Karawal Nagar Mazdoor Union, Gurgaon Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, People’s Union for Democratic Rights and Professor Mahapatra from Delhi University. The cultural front of Bigul Mazdoor Dasta also presented some songs of struggle.
Towards the end, workers took an oath to strengthen the strike by continuing to do so till demands are met.
Garam Rolla Mazdoor Ekta Samiti, Wazirpur Industrial Area
Contact- 09211532753 (Raghuraj), 09873358124 (Sunny)
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