Sirpur Paper Mills workers’ relay hunger strike enters 100th day

Workers of Sirpur Paper Mills marked 100 days of their relay hunger strike in Kagaznagar, demanding elections to identify a recognised labour union. They criticised the government, SPM management and BMS over the delay in holding elections and wage negotiations.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Workers from Sirpur Paper Mills (SPM) cooked food and dined to mark 100 days of their relay hunger strike in Kagaznagar on Thursday. A joint action committee of the workers launched the protest on May 19, demanding that the management of the factory conduct elections to identify a recognised labour union and make an agreement with it for their salary hike.

The workers said despite continuing the relay hunger strike for 100 days, there was no response from either the government or the management of SPM. They criticised the Bharatiya Mazdoor Singh (BMS), a member of the JAC so far, for splitting the committee and forming another forum with the support of the local MLA.

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They termed the act of the BMS as a betrayal. They alleged that some people were trying to make a wage agreement on the pretext that the matter of elections was within the jurisdiction of the court. They wanted the legislator and MLC to exert pressure on the government to hold the elections immediately if they really wanted the welfare of the workers.

The workers said that it was the responsibility of the MLA and MLC to explain to the workers how it was justified to make excuses for postponing the elections. They questioned how the BMS, which had not been able to make the wage agreement even after winning twice in the past, could now make the agreement without power.

JAC convener Gogarla Ramulu, co-convener Sheelam Mogili, members Ambala Odelu, Kushana Rajanna, Munjam Srinivas, Mogili Venkatesh and many others were present.