Shillong, Aug 23: The striking casual workers of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) under the banner of All NEHU Workers Union (ANWU), on Tuesday issued a clarification that their charter of demands (COD) has never been changed as notified by the University Negotiation Committee.
The Union has stated that the statement related to changing of charter of demand everytime as stated by the NEHU in its press release is incorrect as the union has only submitted only one Charter of Demands submitted by ANWU to Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, the Vice Chancellor of NEHU.
The Union also stated that only those letters related to provision of safety kits , gloves, sanitizers , medical allowance, dearness allowances etc. and all of them are falling under the COD. The other demands listed in the Union COD are overtime allowance (which University paid only 12 paise per hour), gratuity, accident compensation, maternity benefits, travelling allowances, Dearness allowances , sick leave, compassionate employment schemes etc.
“There is only one charter of demands and the remaining letters which were sent by the union related to provision of safety kits, gloves, sanitisers, medical allowance, dearness allowances, etc,” said Iba Nongrum, the ANWU vice-president.
“The silent protest-cum-hunger strike started on June 1 and later resumed on June 15 was suspended on the request of the first committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Don Syiem but the union was compelled to resume the protest on July 8 after the grievances and redressal committee failed to include any of the casual workers in the committee,” said Nongrum.
She added that the chairman of the negotiation committee made it a one-man’s committee and never communicated with the casual workers before the approval of the draft meant to address the plights of the casual workers.
“The union resumed the silent protest-cum-hunger strike on August 18 as the NEHU authority failed to provide any written assurances with regard to the status report of regularisation, and implementation of equal pay for equal work,” she added.
With regard to the number of casual workers in NEHU, Nongrum said that as per the RTI there are 323 in Shillong and 39 in Tura and the actual pay of these workers is Rs 17,430 for unskilled, Rs 19,680 for semi skilled, Rs 23,100 for skilled and Rs 25,380 for highly skilled workers excluding 12 per cent EPF and 1.75 per cent ESI as per Union Ministry of Labour.
In this regard, Nongrum said that the casual workers have no issue with NEHU or its VC but they just want written assurance from the authority with regard to their demands especially when it comes to regularization of their services and for the release of full salary for the months of July and August.
