Unions write to Chief Minister
V. Vaithilingam expressing shock over the decision
PUDUCHERRY: The government’s decision to close operations in the ‘A’ unit of Anglo French Textiles was condemned by a MLA and trade unions.
Criticising the government’s decision, Member of the Legislative Assembly (DMK) S.P. Sivakumar said the administration has so far not taken any effort to fully functionalise any of the three mills in Puducherry – Swadesi, Bharathi and AFT. The Government must retract its order, and instead, work towards maximum production at each of these mills in order to provide employment to thousands of young people, he said in a release.
In a release, the Pondicherry Textile Mills Labour Union, an affiliate of the All India Trade Union Congress has condemned the government’s decision to shut down the ‘A’ unit.
Instead of creating more employment opportunities and propelling development, the Puducherry Government has taken a regressive step by asking workers in the ‘A’ unit to take voluntary retirement.
The government must take steps to acquire funds from the Centre, to modernise the mill based on advice from the industry, and make it profitable, the release said.
In a letter to Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, the union has expressed shock over the government’s decision. Pointing out that the mill has contributed to Puducherry’s economic growth, and has directly and indirectly helped provide employment to thousands. In the letter the union also expressed its fear of eventual shutdown of the entire mill, beginning with the ‘A’ unit.
The mill which has been functioning for over a hundred year also has historical significance. Workers of the ‘A’ unit were the first in Asia, to have obtained eight hour work shifts, the letter said.
02 March, 2010 by admin