[Reader-list] Contract workers of Tarapur plant go on strike

[Asit Das]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/contract-workers-of-tarapur-plant-go-on-strike/article5729658.ece#.Uw8JkpivaRE.gmail
   Mumbai, February 26, 2014
Updated: February 26, 2014 20:56 IST
Contract workers of Tarapur plant go on strike

Alok Deshpande

  [image: A view of the Tarapur Atomic Power Station with two pressurised
heavy water reactors (PHWR) at Tarapur, in Maharashtra. File Photo]
 The Hindu A view of the Tarapur Atomic Power Station with two pressurised
heavy water reactors (PHWR) at Tarapur, in Maharashtra. File Photo

 Contract workers at Tarapur Atomic Power Station and Bhabha Atomic Power
Station demand increse in pay scales and permanent jobs

Around 4, 000 contract workers of the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS)
and the nearby Bhabha Atomic Power Station have been on an indefinite
strike since Monday demanding increased pay scales and permanent jobs.

The TAPS Station Director Ravindra Nath said the strike had not yet
affected the plant's operations. "There won't be any effect on the
day-to-day operations of the nuclear plant. The government will have to
take a decision on the demands raised by the workers," he said.

Those on strike in TAPS work in departments ranging from cleaning the
premises to the fuel handling section. "All of us are given the same
monthly salary of Rs.6, 500, irrespective of work we do," Lochan Chowdhary,
one of the workers on strike said.

The majority of them are from families who gave up their land for the TAPS.
They have been demanding permanent jobs since 2008. Most of them have been
working in the plant for at least 7 years.

The contract workers from the BARC have joined the strike, demanding
benefits from the Central government.

"We work on contract for the Central government, but those who hire us do
not seem to follow any rules. We demand equal pay to all and will not rest
until we get it," said Narendra Arekar, an employee from BARC at Tarapur.
He said that majority of the workers were deprived of Travel Allowance,
Provident Fund and yearly bonus.

"We work throughout the year without break, which shows they need our
service. We should be given the equal pay scale as given to the permanent
employees and not the minimum wage," said Mr. Chowdhary.