Cuddalore: The 44-day-long strike by around 13,000 contract workers of Neyveli Lignite Corporation was on Sunday called off following an agreement between the trade unions and the management at the Centre-convened tripartite talks.
At the talks held in Chennai by Chief Labour Commissioner N R Prasad, the NLC management agreed to include about 5,000 contract workers in a cooperative society that would entitle them to various incentives, including cash benefits and pave the way for regularisation of service in future, NLC Chief General Manager (Human Resources) M Maheswaran said.
Representatives of NLC and trade unions -- AITUC, DMK, CITU and six others -- participated in the meeting, Maheswaran told PTI here from Chennai. H Mahadevan, Deputy General Secretary of AITUC, spearheading the strike since April 21, said the settlement was reached amicably and the workers would resume work from tonight itself.
Consequent to the agreement, a total of 4,027 contract workers reported for the 10 pm night shift at the three lignite mines and three thermal power stations and transport wing while others would turn up tomorrow, NLC Deputy Manager (Personnel) A Baskaran said.
Maheswaran said about 5,000 contract workers would be inducted in NLC Industrial Cooperative Society, whose membership is essential to be absorbed as permanent employee in the cadre of industrial workman-2.
The workers of the public sector lignite giant were on strike demanding equal pay for equal work and regularisation of their services, among others. This was the 14th conciliatory talks held to end the strike after earlier rounds held in Neyveli, Cuddalore, Puducherry and Chennai.
PTI