Though SAIl management has already expressed its inability to give annual bonus to its workers on the pretext of loss of Rs1,000 crore in first half of the 2015-16 fiscal during the NJCS meeting held on October 15, but the workers and leaders of various trade unions are not buying the story and are adamant on their demand for bonus.
The trade union leaders argue that bonus has no link with the profit and loss. As per Bonus Act 1966 a company has to give minimum 8.33 per cent of the salary of a worker as annual bonus irrespective of profit and loss. Secondly since last many years, the SAIl has been giving bonus to the workers on production and productivity.
That is why despite loss, workers of many units under SAIl have been getting bonus since last year. Thirdly despite workforce slash the production of SAIl has gone up, which indicates the workers have done their job more efficiently and the loss may be due to mismanagement. Fourthly, the bonus to be given is based on the performance of 2014-15 and on that year production was high and SAIl had earned profit.
Despite this the SAIl management denied bonus with the instruction of the Union Steel Minister which is unfortunate and has occurred for the first time in the history of SAIl, rued the labour leaders.
The trade unions (Rourkela Shramik Sangh, CITU, AITUC, RMS, SEAR, GMM, IlU and AICCTU) working in RSP (except BMS) are on a silent protest agitation at Bisra Chowk and served strike notice for November 6.
Except BJP, all political parties here have extended their support to the hunger strike.
Similarly the BMS affiliated Rourkela Ispat Karakhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) which is also recognised union in RSP after being cornered by other unions on bonus issue has also served strike notice for November 6.