Published On : Fri, Nov 6th, 2015

Retrenched workers of SNDL/Spanco on hunger strike at Samvidhan Chowk, since Nov 2

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Contractor exploited workers

hunger strike by SNDL SPANCO
Nagpur: Eversince the responsibility of regular power supply to citizens of Civil Lines, Gandhibagh and Mahal zones was taken by  SNDL/ Sapnco Nagpur (a private contractor company to ensure power supply), the complaints about mismanagement of the company have been surfacing. The company in quite intolerant on the issue of anyone raising voice against it and pointing out lacuna on its part.

Consequently, the company retrenched its 155 workers about 6  months ago. The aggrieved workers are therefore staging hunger strike at Samvidhan Chowk since November 2, 2015, here in the city, against injustice committed to them, which is an uncalled for situation, that too during the period of ensuing season of major Hindu festivity, Diwali. Has SNDL realized the impact of retrenchment on the lives of small children in the workers’ families, what to talk about the adult members, who have been thrown out to starvation?

All 155 retrenched workers have been staging hunger strike at Samvidhan Chowk under the banner of Spanco Veej Thekedar Kamgar Sangathan, since Nov 2. They had been retrenched 6 month ago. According to Sangathan secretary Kishor Bagde, SNDL/ Spanco has been employing contractor to do work rather than keeping the technical/ non-technical hands of its own. The contractor used to adopt the tactics of getting work done by his selected workers, and would use them for strike-purpose whenever his payment-bills were held up in the company. On many occasions, the workers were required to live without wages during strike period. The tactics of strike would then fetch bills to the contractor. In this way, the contractor exploited the works for his elfish gains.

The needy workers worked for contractor even without getting meagre wages and other legal facilities from contractor and company. Yet, the company has retrenched these workers. The agitating worers are now demanding that they must be taken back on job, and be re-appointed on the pay-roll of the contractor or company. More over, the retrenched works have comprehensive work-experience.

Attempts were made to meet the SNDL/ Spanco PRO or his representative, but in vain.