The three-day strike has been called by the CITU-backed Haldia Petrochemicals Employees union, demanding regularisation of 183 casual employees. The union said the employees are working with the company since 2000.

The union and the HPL authorities had recently locked horn on the issue and on April 8, the CITU had called a strike. The union deferred it after state Commerce and Industries Minister Nirupam Sen and CITU leader Shyamal Chakraborty intervened and assured to resolve the issue.

On Friday, the HPL officials conceded some of the demands of the union but it did not address the regularisation issue.

“We have received a letter from the HPL but the crucial demand of regularisation of casual employees has not been heeded. We are going ahead with our strike,” said Ashok Pattanaik, CITU  leader and a district committee member.

When asked whether the union will hold a meeting with the HPL officials over the issue, Pattanaik said, “We have organised several meetings with them. The chances for another meeting look grim now.”

Besides regularisation, other demands of the union include, providing a temporary relief (Rs 500) to employees against inflation.