Job worry prompts INTTUC leaders and supporters protest in Jalpaiguri
Telegraph | 14 January 2024
District INTTUC leader in Jalpaiguri said on Saturday that the new company set to take over the two plants of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, at Raninagar should engage all its existing workers under same terms and conditions.
The assertion comes a day after workers, along with INTTUC leaders and supporters, demonstrated for over eight hours in one of the plants, demanding that the new company should formally announce that the change in management will not affect any worker. Altogether, there are around 900 workers in both the plants.
“Yesterday (on Friday), we came to know that from now on a new company, and not HCCB, will run the plants. This change has left the workers worried about jobs. Many work on contractual basis. That is why we seek a clear announcement in this regard,” said Uttam Barman, a vice-president of Jalpaiguri district INTTUC.
On Friday, HCCB announced the transfer of bottling operations in three territories. For the northeast and certain areas of Bengal, the plants would be owned and operated by Moon Beverages.
On Friday, as officials of HCCB and Moon Beverages reached Raninagar, INTTUC resorted to protests. Cops reached the spot but protesters did not budge.
Later, trade union leaders said that they got some assurance from HCCB but the new company had not come up with any announcement. Protests were withdrawn at 10pm.
“The workers are serving in the plants as per an agreement with HCCB that will end on January 31. We will wait till February 1 to see what happens,” said Trinamul leader Krishna Das.
An HCCB source said another meeting would be held soon.