The employees of the HMT factory, Ranibag, Haldwani, continued their agitation on Thursday, demanding early settlement of their long- pending demands. The indefinite agitation entered its 36th day on Thursday. The agitation is being staged to protest against the Centre’s decision to close down the public sector unit, said the agitators.
The agitating employees are demanding immediate revival of the said factory instead of having it closed and release of their outstanding salares due since April 2014. Resumption of electricity supply to the HMT unit that was cut off a long time ago is also one of their demands. There are 523 employees presently working here.
They alleged that the Centre is bent on closing down this unit despite HMT watches still having its demand. They further said the unit should be allowed to manufacture certain defence equipments as was done in the past. They threatened to intensify their stir in the coming days if the Government remains apathetic to their long-standing demands.