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Power workers divided over today's strike

By Staff Correspondent
A section of power sector employees begin their planned 24-hour strike across the country from 6 am today to press for their five-point de-
The strike call was opposed by the Jatiya Bidyut Sramik Karmachari Union (JBSKU). backed by the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party. JBSKU leaders said that their members would ignore the strike call as it goes against the national interest.'
The strike called by the leaders of four labour unions of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the Dhaka Electric Supply Authorities (DESA). after a serie* of meeting with the government that ended without reaching any consensus.
i The five-point charter of demands Inc hi ties a separate pay scale for the power employee*. bonus, overtime, nouse rent and shift allowances
The decision to go ahead with die scheduled strike fol lowed a government press note Friday which strongly disapproved the call for strike
The Power. Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry press note expressed thu hope that the planned strike would be withdrawn n the greater national Interest
Talking to the Dally Star over telephone Saturday night. General Secretary of Bangladesh Bidyut Sramik. Federation Abdu* Salam Khan said the government s Intransigence had forced the power employees to go ahead with the strike programme.
The government wa* com-! pietelv indifferent to the long I standing demands of the . pourer sector employee*, he { said , Resenting Friday's press note, he said that the govemI mem should play a more responsible role in addressing to the demand* of the power employees
He Mid Uiat the pres* note, which he termed motivated . liad attempted to undermine the union rights of the employee*
Meanwhile, organiser* of the strike In the capital Saturday brought out proces-■lons and held rallies in favour of the strike.
At s rally at the Bidyut Bhaban Saturday, leaders of the labour union* Mid they would continue their proposed strike till realisation of their demands
Separate meeting* were also organised at the WAPDA building to drum up support for the proposed strike.
Normal power supply would continue during the strike hours, organisers said.
But in cases of power failure or suspension, the workers would not extend service*, they said.
Newspaper office, hospitals and water supply will not come under the purview of the strike, the organisers added.