Ultimatum to settle LPG stir

KOCHI: The District Collector M G Rajamanickam has given an ultimatum to striking contract workers, contractor and IOC officials to settle the strike being launched by the workers at the IOC’s LPG bottling plant at Udayamperoor demanding hike in wages, by 12 noon on Tuesday, by convening a meeting in the day.

The Collector said that unless the strike is not settled by then, he will enforce the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) and measures including arrest of striking workers will be resorted to. The Collector also said that he will also be forced to operate the plant with police protection.

The Collector said this after the talks convened by him to settle the strike on Monday evening failed. The talks were attended by Regional Joint Labour Commissioner Rani Aparajitha, police officials, IOC officials, contractor and labour union representatives.

The Collector also informed the labour union leaders that if the strike is withdrawn by Tuesday 12 noon, he will create the opportunity to discuss their issues with the state government in the next 15 days.

The loading and unloading workers said that the contractor has not taken any steps to renew their wage contract since last May and they have given notice for the strike well within the legal framework.

The workers are demanding to raise the wage from Rs 8,420 and 50.4 paise per cylinder to Rs 15,000. The workers are already on go-slow strike for the past seven days and from Monday they were on indefinite strike.

In place of 140 truck loads moving daily, only 65-70 loads were moving for seven days till Monday. Heavy LPG shortgag looms over eight Central Kerala districts on account of the strike.