India : Trade union issue at Sabarimala resolved
The 11-day stalemate in construction activities at Sabarimala following a dispute between trade unions and Devaswom contractors over unloading of goods at Pampa was resolved at a meeting convened
by the District Labour Officer here on Friday.
Representatives of the trade unions, Travancore Devaswom Board, and contractors attended the meeting held at the District Labour Office.
The meeting unanimously accepted the suggestions put forth by District Labour Officer Gopakumar.
Workers from the nearby villages of Attathode and Naranamthode too will be employed for various works at the prevailing daily wage structure at Sabarimala. The workers also gave an assurance that they will not raise any dispute over wages at Sabarimala.
Trade union leaders said the workers never demanded ‘Nokkukooli’ as alleged by the contractors. However, skilled work would be done by those deployed for the same by the contractors.
The labour officer said as many as 250 workers would get employment at Pampa, Nilackal, and the Sannidhanam. But, a decision on loading goods on tractors was not taken as the tractor contractors failed to attend the meeting.
The trade union leaders said they would not hinder transportation of puja and vazhipadu materials from Pampa to the Sannidhanam.
The work on the Annadana Mandapam, Darshan Complex, and laying of sewer lines to the sewage treatment plant was stopped after the trade unions claimed the right to unload building materials at Pampa 11 days ago.
The transportation of goods between Pampa and the Sannidhanam resumed on Friday afternoon after the talks.
Ravi Sankar, Sabarimala Devaswom Executive Officer; Suresh, Rajagopal, representatives of contractors; and Jyotishkumar Malayalappuzha, Satheeshkumar, S.Haridas, and Sukumaran Nair, representatives of various trade unions, attended the meeting convened by the labour officer.