The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has demanded resignation of Union Steel Minister for ineptitude and would hold a demonstration of steel workers in this connection on July 30.
Considered as the BJP’s labour wing, for the first time, it got a status of a recognised union in steel sector when its affiliated wing Rourkela Ispat Karakhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) won the recognition election in the Rourkela Steel Plant in 2014.
In a Press briefing, RIKKS general secretary Himanshu Bal condemned profoundly the apathetic attitude of the Minister to the steel employees. Bal said on July 17, the Minister had called for a meeting of coordination committee for steel. But all through the Minister was not fit to give any reply; rather he had to take help of the Steel Secretary to reply.
From this it was well understood that the Minister was completely unaware about the problems of steel workers and functioning of the Steel Ministry. Besides, the reply of the Minister on the questions of the representatives of trade unions of steel sector was shocking. It was expected that the Minister would give certain positive response regarding the new wage revision and long pending pensions of the workers whose agreement was made in 2014. But instead of that, the
Minister said for next two and a half years, there would be no possible of wage revision and decision on implementation of pension scheme depends upon two factors, i.e. when SAIl makes profit and a decision of the Board. The statement of the Minister may invite the labour movement in all the units of SAIl, said Bal.
Besides, Bal said at the outset while the primary members of NJCS demanded for early implementation of pension scheme and initiating process for wage revision, central working committee member of BMS Dr Basant Rai said the Minister and other MPs after the tenure may get Rs 87,000 per month as pension but there is no money and sympathy for the steel workers who work in 1500 degree centigrade to melt the ore to steel.
Bal also raised the issue of diploma engineers working in the SAIl on designating them as Junior Engineers instead of SOT.
Bal further said the BMS would take up the issues with the PM through a letter.