The management claimed that workers have struck work since Wednesday and did not allow even contract labourers to report on duty, while the workers alleged that the management stopped production due to piling up of raw material and finished goods.

During the meeting held by the labour department officials with the representatives of workers and the management in the evening, the workers maintained that they were not on strike and were demanding hike in wages by at least Rs 1500, while the management said the the demands were unreasonable.

The workers who are also demanding conveyance allowance, which is at present given only to executives, along with other perks and allowances, said they might settle for a hike of Rs 1200.

The workers alleged that the company was flouting recruitment norms. Though it was binding on the company to recruit 80 per cent local persons, it was not employing more than 60 per cent, it alleged.

Meanwhile, the strike at Larsen and Toubro's Hazira Works is still on. While the L&T Kamdar Union is insisting on reinstatement of six workers terminated by the company after a ruckus during the annual general meeting of the Cooperative Credit Society on September 26 -- the general manager and other senior officials were allegedly abused and manhandled after the meeting -- the management is sticking to its guns.

The strike, which started on September 28, entered its 17th day on Thursday. The workers had struck work raising several demands in the meeting while the management later maintained that workmen did not raise productivity, a promise they gave during the last wage settlement.

The company maintains that not only has productivity level been going down over the last six months, it has led to huge cost and time overruns delaying supplies of important equipment to projects of national importance. It pointed out intimidation of supervisors as deterioration of discipline among the workforce.

A senior L&T official told Express Newsline on Thursday that the management and office-bearers of workers' union had a meeting last night. Though various proposals were put forward by the management, the meeting remained inconclusive.