The Keonjhar Mines and Forest Workers Union under the AITUC has threatened to hold an indefinite dharna in Jilling iron mine and Langalotta manganese mine of OMC under Joda mining circle.
Union leader Maheswar Rout told that Jilling and Langalotta mines which were previously owned by Essel Mining had stopped the production and about 1,150 workers had been retrenched. However, the OMC started production in the two mines a few days back.
In this regard, the union has given a list of the retrenched of workers to both OMC and Kalinga Commercial Corporation - the raising contactor of the mines to reappoint them, but so far no response has been obtained, told Rout. He lamented that while the workers who lost job were under severe strains, the raising contractor was engaging workers from outside and ignoring the local experienced workers.
