Workers at state-run organisations across country stage 24-hr strike

Huge quantity of sugarcane lies on the premises of Panchagarh Sugar Mills as crushing remained suspended during workers' 24-hour countrywide strike yesterday demanding retrospective effect to the recommendations of National Wages and Productivity Commission. Photo: STAR

Workers at different state-run organisations across the country observed a 24-hour strike yesterday demanding retrospective effect to the recommendations of the National Wages and Productivity Commission.
The cabinet in mid-January endorsed the recommendations of the National Wages and Productivity Commission that proposed for monthly lowest wages of Tk 4,175 for a worker and decided to bring the recommendations into effect from July 1, 2010.
However, the workers of state-run organisations yesterday enforced the strike demanding to effect the new wage structure from July 1, 2009, instead of July 1, 2010.
The work abstention programme was announced by the central body leaders of the workers on January 25.
Our Staff Correspondent in Khulna reported that production at seven state-owned jute mills of Khulna-Jessore industrial belt remained suspended from 6am yesterday in response to the call for 24-hour strike given by zonal committee of Patkal Sangram Parishad to press home 10-point demand of workers and employees.
The demands include implementation of recommendations of National Wages Commission with effect from July 1 of 2009.
Workers staged demonstrations in front of their respective jute mills while observing the programmes.
Jatiya Sramik League, Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and Jatiya Sramik Party have expressed their solidarity with the ongoing agitation of Patkal Sangram Parishad.
In Natore, workers and employees of Natore Sugar Mill and North Bengal Sugar Mill observed strike yesterday to press home their demand for implementation of the recommendations under National Wages and Productivity Commission, with effect from July 1, 2009.
The workers started the work abstention from 8:00am and took position in front of their respective sugar mills in Sadar and Lalpur upazilas, reports our correspondent.
Workers of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh Sugar Mills Limited also observed the strike from 6:00am to press home their 9-point demand, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.
In Panchagarh, workers of the mill gathered at the mill gate and brought out procession chanting slogans in favour of their demands.
In the afternoon a rally was held at the mill gate area where the leaders urged the government to meet their demands for the sake of their better life as the prices of essential commodities shot up in the last few months.
In Thakurgaon, the workers and employees of Thakurgaon Sugar Mills observed the programme to realise their 9-point demand including early implementation of wage commission recommendation.
In Rangamati, workers at Karnaphuli Paper Mills (KPM) at Kaptai upazila also observed the strike yesterday.
The workers abstained from work to press for their demands including implementation of wage commission, increase of hill allowance to Tk 3000 from 1500, profit bonus and correction of grade-16 for the workers, reports our correspondent.
The workers also formed human chain and staged sit-in at the mill.
In Brahmanbaria, about 1000 workers and employees of Ashuganj Fertiliser Chemical Company Limited (AFCCL) observed work abstention yesterday, reports our correspondent.
According to police and AFCCL sources, the workers of the factory locked the main gate in the morning after signing their attendance resister at the office.
Due to the programme at main gate, loading of fertiliser remained stopped. The dealers could not withdraw their allocated fertiliser from the factory yesterday, sources said.