Police hand-in-glove with Godrej management, alleges union

Police hand-in-glove with Godrej management, alleges union
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JAN 25: Shramik Utkash Sabha, a trade union led by senior Congress leader Vijay Kamble, on Wednesday alleged that the police were hand in glove with the management of Godrej Boyce and Gorej GE Appliances Ltd and threatened to intensify agitations.

About 850 casual workers led by Kamble were arrested on Tuesday when they staged an agitation in front of the Godrej plant at Vikhroli demanding that they be allowed to resume work following a court order. The police had also resorted to lathicharge outside the plant. The union on Wednesday demanded that the management immediately allow the 2,500 casual employees to resume work.

The workers had been prevented from working after they opposed the company's decision to cut their monthly payment by Rs 2,500 from November 2000. In its January 18 order, the industrial court had ordered the company to continue employment of the 2,500 casual employees.

Even after intervention by State Labour Minister Hussain Dalwai, the management was not willing to employ the workers, alleged Krishna Mokal, president of the Shramik Utkarsh Sabha. He said the workers would take out a morcha and go on an indefinite hunger strike if the management did not follow the industrial court's order.

Meanwhile, police sources said 72 workers were remanded to police custody till February 6. Sub Inspector Bhosale was treated at Rajawadi Hospital and sent home.

In the clash between the workers and the police on Tuesday, 14 workers, 3 assistant security managers, 1 watchman and one assistant sub-inspector had been reported injured. Among other things, vehicles and jeeps within the premises had also been also damaged.