Ahead of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) union polls, the INTUC-affiliated Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS) and the BMS-affiliated Rourkela Ispat Karakhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) have locked horns over the issue of promotion of 2,671 workers.
According to RSS leader Prasant Behera, basing on three and a half years of cluster promotion, 2,671 workers should get promotion from Cluster-A and B to Cluster C on August 26 last. But it was delayed due to nasty politics of RIKKS leader Dilip Pattanaik.
Behera alleged while a joint meeting of all trade unions was going on at the Regional labour Commissioner (central) Office on August 22 last to discuss the ensuing recognition election, Pattanaik immediately diverted the issue and urged the RlC to put a stay on the promotion of workers. However, owing to strong protest from the RSS, the RlC immediately could not take a decision on the stay. But Pattanaik succeeded in his mission by mounting pressure on the RlC.
Consequently, the RlC gave an instruction to the RSP authority to deprive the workers of promotion and other financial benefits, he said.
Behera further alleged that the RIKKS members are confusing the freshers and trainees by posting wrong information in face book. He said since last four years, the RSP workers have been getting bonus for Rs 18,040. But last year, the BMS had demanded for Rs 30,000.
“This year the RIKKS supported Government is in Centre and the RIKKS leaders claim due to their persuasion with the Union Steel Minister, the SAIl workers got their first instalment of NJCS arrears. So let them ask the Minister to give the RSP workers bonus for Rs 30,000 during this year’s Durga Puja,” said Behera.
RIKKS leader Dilip Pattanaik, on the other hand, said earlier the cluster promotion was given twice in a year. Accordingly while one promotion was given to the workers who have completed three years between January 1 and June 30, the second promotion to the workers was given who completed three years between July1 and December 31.