The employees of Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Ltd (BHPV), a subsidiary of BHEL, took to the streets here on Friday and blocked traffic on the National Highway-5 for a few hours demanding wage revision.

The unit is located on the highway.

Workers along with their families participated in the agitation organised by the CITU. The Telugu Nadu Trade Union Council (TNTUC) and other unions supported the stir.

Mr Ajay Sarma, the CITU State secretary, said it was a pity that even though BHPV had been taken over by BHEL nearly four years ago, wage revision had not been effected.

“Workers of BHPV are still getting 1992 wages. They are now agitating for 1997 wage scales, whereas their counterparts in BHEL are getting 2007 scales. The UPA Government is not bothered about BHPV or the welfare of workers. The takeover of BHPV by BHEL has in no way benefited the workers,” he alleged.

Mr B. Pydi Raju, a TNTUC functionary, alleged that the local Congress leaders were dodging their responsibilities and not taking up the issue with the Union Government. Mr N. Rama Rao, the general secretary of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Workers' Union, and others expressed their support to the agitating BHPV staff.

comment COMMENT NOW