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| Power loom workers demonstrating in front of the Vardhman Mill, September 23, 2010 |
The strike of hundreds of power loom workers of Ludhiana's Gaushala, Kashmir Nagar and Madhopuri areas is still in progress. The round of conversations held with factory owners in presence of labour officials attained no results. The workers are demonstrating in front of the Vardhman Mill (Chandigarh Road) of Ludhiana. Rajwinder, president of Karkhana Mazdoor Union said today that there is great division among the factory owners and they could not reach a common understanding. They are more worried by the fact that if they bow to the demands of the workers today it will boost the confidence of the workers in their organisation and unity which will prove harmful for them in the long run. He said that the factory owners will have to submit to the demands of the workers. The workers' morale was high and they were determined to win their rights.
The strike of the power loom workers of Gaushala, Kashmir Nagar and Madhopuri areas of Ludhiana started from September 16. It started with the workers of 22 factories and now there are workers of about 52 factories participating in it. The workers of these factories and in general all factories of Ludhiana live in pathetic conditions. They toil daily for 12-14 hours but earn a meagre salary. Labour laws are non-existent in these factories. The workers are not even given identity cards. There are no security measures and workers keep losing their life and limb in deadly accidents which keep occurring every now and then. On 24th of August the workers of 42 factories of Shaktinagar, Tibba Road area striked against their owners and forced them to concede to their demands. The strike that successfully ended on 31st August has generated a wave of inspiration among the workers of other areas.
In the leadership of Karkhana Mazdoor Union the workers of Gaushala, Kashmir Nagar and Madhopuri are on strike for 8 days. The workers of Geeta Nagar area of Ludhiana are also on strike in the leadership of Hosiery and Textile Mazdoor Union (a union affiliated to CITU Panjab). Rajwinder said that they have been trying to coordinate their strike with the struggle of the Geeta Nagar area but havn't been able to achieve much due to the narrow-mindedness of the CITU leadership.
Issued by, Lakhwinder, Mobile: 96461 50249
Secretary, Karkhana Mazdoor Union, Ludhiana.
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