Bonus: NCTPS contract workers stage protest

Though there are more than 10,000 contract workers with over 10 years’ service in the State, the power utility stated that only 14 of them were eligible for the bonus, alleged the union.

The 1,500 contract workers employed in the first and second phase of NCTPS, wore black badge as a sign of protest, said the CITU-affiliated Central Organisation of Tamil Nadu Electricity Employees (COTEE).

The union allege that Tangedco issued the order stating that there were only 14 contract workers in the State who would get the bonus of Rs 4,000. K Venkataiah, president, COTEE, NCTPS -II wing, asked the utility to consider the demand of the contract workers. “If their demand is not considered, the permanent workers in the plant would be forced to resort to protest in support,” he said.

COTEE had held a State-wide protest on Thursday demanding fixation of minimum wages for contract workers, appointing them in about 43,000 vacancies, disbursal of bonus on a par with regular employees and a rollback of the steep hike in charges for new electricity connections.