Sugar barons defer wage revision

The federation and the workers’ coordination committee have been holding meetings for the past three months to decide on revised wages for the workers. However, it is learnt that the federation has been concentrating on the problems faced by the industry at the meetings, instead of deliberating upon wage revision.

The crushing season has begun this month. But the workers are expected to co-operate with the management only if their wages are revised immediately. The crushing season is normally at its peak during December-January. If the workers resort to an indefinite strike, the industry is sure to suffer heavy losses.

The federation-workers talks in Mumbai on Wednesday were not fruitful. The federation was represented by Shivajirao Patil, Narendra Borgaonkar, Ram Meghe and Narsingrao Patil. The workers’ representatives included Kishor Pawar, Madhukar Bhise, Madhukar Katre, B.R. Patil and Suresh Gawali.

Sharad Pawar, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, was present at the office of the federation when the meeting was held. However, he did not attend the meeting. After the meeting, representatives of the federation and workers met Pawar to request him to take an initiative to resolve the impasse of wage revision. Pawar assured them that he would hold talks with the persons concerned.

A bumper crop of sugarcane is expected this year. This will allow opening of 12 to 14 of the total 24 sick sugar factories. The federation is studying the likely effect of the Central Government’s delicensing policy on the industry. Its delegation will soon meet the Chief Minister to discuss the problems. The federation is interested in meeting Vajpayee and inform him about the sugar industry’s woes and to seek some concessions.

The country will import 11 lakh tonnes sugar this year. The federation is studying the impact of the imports on the industry.

Labour leader Madhukar Katre has said that the federation has agreed to sign the wage agreement before December 31. However, he said the dilly-dallying tactics of the federation was creating dissension among the workers.