Workers carry on strike at Khulna, Ctg jute mills

Workers of different state-owned jute mills yesterday were on their second consecutive day of work abstention in Chattogram and Khulna to press home their nine-point demand, including payment of their arrears.

They also blocked roads and railways at different points as part of their 72-hour strike that began around 6:00am on Tuesday. The blockade, from 8:00am to 12 noon, caused travellers to suffer.

Their other demands include implementing the National Wage Scale-2015, paying gratuities and insurance claims of retired and deceased workers, reinstating the workers who lost jobs during previous workers' demonstrations, regularising the jobs of temporary workers and authorising the mills authorities to recruit workers.

In Khulna, workers of nine jute mills in the Jashore and Khulna industrial region blocked the Dhaka-Khulna highway at different points in the city, including BDR Camp, Phulbari Gate, Daulatpur and Natun Rasta intersections.

They also blocked Dhaka-Khulna railway at the city's Nayabati, Natun Rasta, and Daulatpur points.

The workers demonstrated under the banner of Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) and Non-CBA Oikya Parishad, reports our Khulna correspondent.

Sahanaj Sharmin, president of employees union at Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills, told The Daily Star that workers did not get their salaries regularly, but Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation officials were getting their salaries regularly.

“If our demands are not met, we will go for tougher movements,” she warned.

Workers of nine jute mills yesterday observed the work abstention in Chattogram, adds our staff correspondent there.

During the work abstention, workers of Amin Jute Mills blocked Chattogram-Hathazari road and rail lines in the port city's Baizid area.

Kamal Uddin, CBA office secretary at the jute mills, said the district administration assured them of implementing the National Wage Scale-2015.

“We don't believe in assurances as the earlier promises were not fulfilled. We will continue our agitation until our demands are met,” he said.