Ordnance factories threaten to go on strike

Nagpur/Bengaluru: Two days after meeting the secretary of defence production, the unions in ordnance factories have decided to issue a strike notice to the government on August 4. The strike to protest the government’s proposal to corporatize the ordnance factory board (OFB) will be indefinite and may start from October 12.
The unions will be waiting till July 31 to receive a communication from the government following their concerns. If they fail to get receive any communication, the unions will communicate the date of strike notice to the government.
“August 4, the day when unions plan to issue the notice, also coincides with the date when the tenders for selection of consultants for the corporatization process will be opened,” stated a joint press release issued by the three unions operating in ordnance factories.
The release stated it was clear from the initial remark of the secretary that the government will be going ahead with the plans to corporatize OFB.
If the unions go on a strike, it would be for the second time that an indefinite strike will be held in 41 ordnance factories. A strike was held on the same grounds in August last year after which a high level committee was formed to discuss the corporatization issue. Production at the factories has already taken a hit due to Covid lockdown.