Talks fail, NLC stir to continue

CHENNAI : As tripartite talks between striking Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) contract workers, NLC’s management and labour officials fail, the strike will continue, with Saturday marking the 29th day of the stir.The second round of talks, part of a conciliation process, began at 2.45 pm and went on for hours before the meeting was called off. The next round of talks has been scheduled for May 22. The Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) M M Jagannatha Rao told NLC’s management to take measures to dispose of their appeal pending with the apex court. The appeal was made against a high court order directing NLC to consider seniority while inducting contract workers into the permanent stream.But, the officials insisted that it should not figure in the minutes before key trade union representatives left the meeting. General secretary, AITUC contract wing at NLC, K Venkatesan said the workers would gherao the NLC Corporate Office in Neyveli with their families.