Bhilai Nagar, June 30, 2021
The workers and labour leaders of Bhilai Steel Plant were baton-charged by the police late evening on June 30. More than a dozen of steel workers including HMS General Secretary Pramod Mishra were injured in the incident. They were staging demonstration at Equipment Square near the Main Gate of SAIL’s Flagship Unit – Bhilai Steel Plant.
The Trade Unions active in Bhilai with support of the workmen staged a magnificent and massive strike at Bhilai Steel Plant on Wednesday alleging arrogance and anti-worker approach on the part of SAIL Management. The wage revision of workers is pending for the last four and a half years. The bipartite talks at the level of National Joint Committee for Steel (NJCS) commenced with great delay. A number of physical and virtual meetings have been conducted but there was not positive outcome. Considering the adamant and negative attitude of the management, ultimately all the unions in public sector steel industry collectively decided to go in for strike action on June 30.
Pressing the demands of immediate finalisation of a favourable wage revision, revocation of disciplinary action against the workmen, compassionate appointment for the dependents of the workmen who died due to Covid19, etc, the trade unions staged an impressive strike in Bhilai Steel Plant on Wednesday. The demonstrators were present at all the entry-exit points of the SAIL’s Flagship unit to prevent the workers from moving towards the workplace. On the other hand, the jawans of CISF and District Police were trying to create passage for the workers who were willing to proceed towards the workplace. Tense situation prevailed at all the gates of Bhilai Steel Plant throughout the day. The striking trade unions claimed that more than 80% of the staff remained absent from work and supported the strike. On the other hand, BSP authorities asserted that the normal operations continued and production remained unaffected from the strike.
The demonstrators present at various gates managed to prevent the workers from moving towards the Plant in the A-Shift, General Shift and B-Shift. The management found itself in trouble when the demonstrators continued their agitation till late evening hours and stopped the workers of Night Shift also. In the meanwhile, the management applied a trick to transport the workers inside the plant by using the buses of District Police. The workers and contract labours boarded the buses at Bhilai Niwas in Civic Centre and the vehicles moved towards the Main Gate for entering the Bhilai Steel Plant.
The BSP management dodged the demonstrators at Equipment Square as they believed that police personnel were moving in the buses. On suspicion, the demonstrators intercepted the third bus and were surprised to find the workers sitting inside. The security personnel resorted immediately and raised batons to disperse the peaceful demonstrators. About a dozen of protestors suffered injuries in the incident.
BMS and AICCTU leaders and members were present at Khursipar Gate; HMS, Ispat Shramik Manch and Loktantrik Ispat evam Engineering Mazdoor Sangh at Main Gate; CITU at Boria Gate; Steel Workers Union and HMS (contract labour union) at Maroda Gate; and AITUC and Hindustan Ispat Theka Shramik Union leaders and members were present at Joratarai Gate.