GACL contract workers strike

Around 800 contract workers working with Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL), under the banner of Chemical Mazdoor Panchayat (CMP) went on a day-long strike at the company’s plant in Ranoli near Vadodara on 13 February.

The one-day strike was held to demand from the management to come up with a settlement for regularisation of service for contract workers, bring wages of contract workers at par with the permanent workers and provide similar service conditions along with safety measures as given to permanent workers and ensure that negotiations take place.

Contract workers in GACL are part of the main operations of the company but they get monthly wages between Rs. 4000-5000, in comparison to permanent workers who get wages of upto Rs 25000 per month. The core demands of CMP also includes that wages of contract workers should not be less than the lowest paid permanent worker of the company.

Union President Ashim Roy said, that the workers have asked GACL authorities to meet their demands in 15 days or else they will go on a full strike, resulting in total halt in production.