Kanpur jute mill shuts two units

“We have called off work in these two sections till normalcy returns in the mill,” he said. “No intake of fresh stock has been done in these two sections,which are strongly dominated by trade union leaders,” Boradia added.

In the past few months,jute production in the mill has gone down from 70 tonnes a day to 12 tonnes. The management had earlier reduced the work shift from three to two.

Undeterred,the mill employees continued their indefinite relay protest for the second week in succession. Last week,two employee union leaders sat on a fast unto death. The protest was called off three days later on March 25 after which the employee unions started with their indefinite relay protest.

“By reducing the number of work shifts,the management has made its intention clear that it is not interested in increasing jute production,” said Daulat Ram,president,J K Mazdoor Panchayat. “We are not wrong in demanding our gratuity funds or a permanent job to the temporary employees. We have waited for a long time and our protest will go on till our demands are met,” Ram added.

Terming the unions’ attitude as adamant,Boradia said,“No solution seems to be in the offing in the near future as the employee union leaders are against the proper functioning of the unit.”

This is not for the first time that J K Jute Mill has been plagued by problems. It was closed on June 21,2003 because of financial crisis. Five years later,it was reopened.