Port Blair, Aug 10: Workers of the Andaman Public Works Department, at the call given by the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh (ASNVMS), went on one-day strike today demanding implementation of Govt. of India’s order on grant of 1/30th pay plus DA scheme to the daily rated mazdoors working in APWD.
Workers working under all the Divisions of APWD from Campbell Bay to Diglipur participated in the strike. Striking workers of Port Blair and South Andaman rural areas assembled in front of the Chief Engineer, APWD’s office and sat on a mass dharna from morning to evening.
The strike was total in all the Divisions under the APWD throughout the islands. The striking workers conducted mass demonstration/sit in front of the office of the concerned Executive Engineers at outstations. The strike was successful at Diglipur, Mayabunder, Rangat, Kadamtala, Neil Island, Havelock, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Katchal and Campbell Bay.
At Port Blair, the striking workers were addressed by B. Chandrachoodan, President and M. Boominathan, General Secretary of the Union. They criticized the Administration and APWD for not accepting the demand of the Union to the Govt. of India’s order issued during 1988 on the above scheme. Addressing the workers B. Chandrachoodan said that the Administration is discriminating against the daily rated mazdoors of APWD while the said benefit has already been extended to hundreds of daily rated workers working in the Port Blair Municipal Council.
He said that about 4000 daily rated mazdoors working in APWD are kept denied of their legitimate financial benefits. The Union has conducted a series of agitation during the last few years. He said that the Administration even after accepting the demand in principle, is unduly delaying the decision.
