Jamshedpur: The indefinite strike by major
labour unions of the government-owned Uranium Corporation Of
India Limited (UCIL) entered the tenth day on Saturday with talks
with management failing to break the deadlock.
The meeting convened by Chairman-Cum-Managing Director of
UCIL with representatives of the four labour unions late last
night failed to resolve the stalemate, company sources said.
Though both sides climbed down from their demands, they
could not reach an agreement.
The UCIL authorities, who were stuck to 19 per cent hike,
offered 23 per cent hike whereas the labour unions, who were
demanding for 27 per cent guaranteed benefit and two
increments, came down to 24 per cent and two increments.
However, the talks failed with the labour unions, who
were demanding for parity with Coal India Limited (CIL),
remaining adamant at 24 per cent guaranteed benefit and two
increments, the sources said.
The management agreed to honour the parity with the CIL,
where wage revision had taken place last year, as it amounted
to 21.2 per cent increase in guaranteed benefit, they said.
The labour unions stuck to their original demand of 24
per cent even after the company's CMD intervened and agreed to
go beyond parity of salary (basic pay + DA) and accepted 23
per cent increase in guaranteed benefit after prolonged
discussions, sources said.
Appreciating the approach of the management to break
the stalemate, Rajaram Singh, General Secretary of Uranium
Kamgar Union, said the talks were heading in a positive
direction and expressed hope that it would be resolved soon.
The talks remained inconclusive primarily on the issue
of fringe benefits like underground allowance, house rent,
conveyance, night allowances, etc, he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, October 17, 2009, 19:41