Jharkhand
Jharkhand Krantikaari Mazdoor Union: The Jharkhand Krantikaari Mazdoor Union (JKMU) has been struggling for many years demanding permanent status for all workers on contract in perennial jobs in the Bokaro Steel Plant. The JKMU has been made a member of the Jharkhand State Contract Labour Advisory Board and the Jharkhand State Engineering Industries Wage Board. This is a rare incident as it is usually accepted that only central trade unions are made members of such state level boards. More than 90% of contract workers in the power sector are today members of JKMU.
Recent Struggles
- Workers working in Uranium Corporation India Ltd held a Jan Sunwai on displacement. Criminal cases were lodged against 37 Executive members, and were arrested. They are out on bail
- In Bokaro steel plant, contract and casual workers are not given quarters and had been living in slums. High Court has now given orders for encroachment, which would then lead to the demolition of these structures. SP and other district officials were gheraoed by workers. JKMU had given a strike notice in 16-17 May 2011. Meetings were held everywhere and contract workers were mobilised in huge numbers. An application was also submitted simultaneously to the Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) for rehabilitation of these workers. RLC asked for quarters to be built and management finally accepted the demands for building permanent structures.
- Workers were also not entitled to medical facilities. After a lot of pressure and struggle from the union, this was achieved. As a result, 20,000 workers would benefit.
- JKMU observed a strike on 20 April 2011 asking for increment for Bokaro plant workers. An important achievement was that Rs 1000 was increased, and a written agreement was signed and accepted.
Past struggles
- In July 2009 JKMU organised a union of 220 contract workers in a newly established private steel factory owned by Electro Steel Casting Ltd. In this unit 100 workers were terminated for participating in union activities. JKMU organised a dharna and several blockades with the help of local villagers and forced the management to reinstate all workers. The union could also force the Deputy Labour Commissioner exercise his power on the management to reinstate the workers with the threat to cancel the factory license.
- The JKMU also unionised 500 contract workers in Bokaro Power Supply Co. Pvt. Ltd. (a joint venture between SAIL and DVC) in April 2009. There are multiple unions in the plant, but the JKMU members in the helper category, who had been struggling for a year for implementation of minimum wages and other benefits, finally boycotted payment for 10 days forcing the contractor to pay minimum wages to all workers.
- A 72 hour strike was organised by JKMU beginning 12 June 2008 demanding regularisation of contract workers, equal wage for equal work and retirement benefits for contract workers. A demand for 20% bonus for contract workers has also been raised across sectors in Bokaro.