HAL employees' strike continues, unions reject management claim of fair offer
Bengaluru: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited management on Tuesday urged its striking employees to accept the "fair offer" made by it but the latter stuck to their stand, saying the two-day old indefinite stir will continue till an 'amicable' solution beneficial to them was reached.
The Defence PSU also reiterated its stand that the strike was illegal, a claim rejected by the trade unions.
The employees of HAL across the country, including more than 10,000 here, launched the indefinite strike on Monday, demanding among others wage revision.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, HAL Director (Finance) C B Ananthakrishnan explained the financial position of the company and said it wanted to reduce the labour cost from 24 per cent to below 20 per cent.
Our offer is a fair and reasonable, he said.
On Sunday, HAL had said it offered to enhance allowance under the cafeteria system and revised rate of fitment benefit at 11 per cent among others, but the unions did not accept it.
HAL Director (Human Resources) V M Chamola said the management had so far conducted 11 rounds of negotiations with the unions.
There were issues, including cafeteria allowances, which the management tried hard to negotiate, he said.
All-India HAL Trade Unions' Co-ordination Committee (AIHALTUCC) chief convenor Suryadevara Chandrasekhar on Tuesday rejected HAL's charge that the employees' agitation was illegal.
We had informed the management as well as the Labour Commissioner about it before going for a strike, he told reporters here. He also disputed HAL's claim that wage revision had been effected twice in the past 12 years.
The revision did not take place twice since 2007 but was effected in two parts, he added. The employees unions decided to continue their agitation unless an amicable solution was evolved, he added.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
