The country's prestigious Central Public Sector Undertaking (Heavy Engineering Corporation) is once again in the grip of the anger of the employees. Supply and contract workers have started a fierce protest amidst preparations to implement the outsourcing system in the company. The employees say that ignoring them despite years of service and trying to make appointments from an outside agency is not only unjust, but also against the basic structure of the company.
In fact, a big meeting was organized near Dhurva roundabout on Sunday, in which about 1400 workers and their families participated. The workers made it clear that no employee will fill the form for outsourcing. The agitators say that if the management tries to forcefully get the form filled, then legal options will be resorted to.
Manoj Pathak, a member of HEC Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, said, 'We have been in the service of HEC for 20-25 years, when permanentization should have happened, then we are being thrown out on the pretext of agency, this is a fraud. Earlier also outsourcing has failed in the security department, now the same mistake is being repeated.' He further said that when the company itself is struggling with financial crisis, then spending lakhs of rupees on the agency is beyond comprehension. 'HEC should take responsibility of its employees itself and give them all the facilities they are entitled to.'
It has also been decided in the meeting that the agitation will continue until the outsourcing plan is not withdrawn. The employees said that this is not just a question of job, but of dignity and trust. If this is the reward of today's hard work, then tomorrow no technical worker will want to join this institute. The workers have demanded that the company should publicly declare that it will provide all the basic facilities to its employees itself, not through the agency. The workers have hopes regarding the upcoming meeting of the parliamentary committee formed for the revival of HEC. This committee has already met twice and now the third meeting is being considered decisive. This time union representatives have also been called in the meeting, so that the voice of the employees can reach directly.
'If the government and management want to save HEC, they must first respect the experience, dedication and rights of the workers. At present, the workers' protest has turned into a movement and it will not stop until their demands are heard seriously.