OF unions stopped in strike path by govt’s ‘non-core’ demands

Nagpur: As the Army has raised concern over short supply from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the unions have pointed out that some of the items like troops’ clothing were declared non-core by the government itself. Now, in wake of the tension with China, the Army is looking at the ordnance factories to meet the requirement.
The Army had the freedom procure non-core items from private sector and there were plans to phase out production of these goods at the ordnance factories.
A proposal by the government to corporatize the OFB set-up had let to the unions moving a strike ballot. With 99% of workers voting in favour of an indefinite strike, the unions have planned to hold a meet in July second week to decide the course of action.
In the light of developments along the line of actual control (LAC) and an impending strike, the department of defence production (DDP) has written to the OFB listing out over 40 items that are in shortage. The list includes over 20 items like high altitude and cold weather clothing, wind cheaters, caps, bags, jackets, camping gear and combat dress.
A press release by the three unions — All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), Indian National Defence Workers Federation (INDWF) and Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS) — points out that all these items were declared as non-core, but now being treated as critical due to the LAC crisis.
The items are made in factories at Kanpur, Shahjahanpur, Hazratpur in Uttar Pradesh and Avadi in Tamil Nadu. Two years ago, the clothing items were declared non-core. Earlier, there were plans to stop the production totally at the ordnance factories. However, the BPMS insisted that it should be phased out gradually. After this, production was reduced to 50% in the first year and by another 25% in the following, said Mukesh Singh, general secretary of BPMS.
Now as there is a need, the items have been declared as critical and ordnance factories are being asked to speed-up the supply, he said.
The unions have said in order to avoid an indefinite strike in the wake of border situation, the government should drop the idea of corporatizing the OFB set-up. This will motivate the workers to put up their best efforts as they are at present anguished by the plan to change of ordnance factories into a public sector undertaking.
“The situation warrants building up confidence in the minds of our brave soldiers by providing them with all the protective gear, comfort item, as well as arms and ammunition. Therefore, to avoid strike in the most strategic defence industry, the Prime Minister may intervene and issue instructions for withdrawing the proposal to corporatize the OFB,” said the press release by the three unions.