Vehicular traffic came to a standstill at Bobbill on the Vizianagaram-Rayagada road on Monday as nearly 1,000 workers of the Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Jute Mills blocked the National Highway 36, alleging that the management had declared a lockout without prior notice.
They demanded that the mill be reopened without any condition.
Vehicles were held up for around four hours as the protesters squatted on the road from 5a.m. to 9 a.m. Later, they gheraoed the factory officials.
Taking part in the protest, CPI (M) divisional secretary Reddy Venu, CITU leaders Seshagiri Rao and Sankar Rao, the workers who reported to their duties in the morning shift were taken aback with the management’s decision.
Despite presence of strong police force, a number of mill workers entered the factory and gheraoed the factory’s personnel officer, demanding an explanation.
Talks held
During the talks between the management and the protesters, in the presence of Bobbili SDPO Ishaq Mohammed, the management had expressed its inability to run the factory citing short supply of raw material, but promised that the mill would reopened soon after the present situation eased.
The factory officials also promised to declare the lockout period as “lay off” and pay wages to the permanent workers. Later, the workers called off their protest.
Protesters allege that the management has declared lockout without prior notice
Workers gherao factory officials, seeking reopening of the jute mill
