Report of Mazdoor Ekta Committee correspondent
Workers at the Deltron company, located in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area Phase 1, have been on strike since June 3. Their demands include (1) salary increase to Rs. 25,000 per month (2) double overtime pay (3) one weekly holiday and two paid holidays per month and (4) good and nutritious food provided in the factory canteen.
Hundreds of workers are on strike in the scorching heat, including a large number of women workers.
Workers aged 5 to 25 years are working in this factory. They are being paid only Rs. 14,000 to 15,000. The workers said that inflation is so high that it is very difficult to survive on such low wages. There are problems with drinking water and bathrooms in the company, and the food in the canteen is of poor quality. They said that members of the management are abusing them and insulting the striking workers by showing them slippers. After the strike, the management said that wages will be increased only by Rs. 1,000.
The police are trying to suppress the strike. However, the workers have declared that they will continue the strike until their demands are met: a salary of Rs. 25,000, double overtime payment, one day off per week and two paid holidays per month, and nutritious food in the canteen.