Calcutta, March 4 :
Workers at ten jute mills belonging to Arun Bajoria, Harak Chand Kankaria and Govind Sarda will go on an indefinite strike from Saturday, in spite of being paid higher dearness allowances (DA).
Jute trade unions have adopted this first-time move because the owners of these mills have not paid higher DA in six other mills promoted by them.
Of the ten mills to go on strike, six belong to the Bajoria group and two each to Kankaria and Sarda groups.
Five of the six mills, which are owned by them and which have not paid higher DA, are already on strike. The sixth mill is under lockout.
This is the first time that trade unions are going on strike in an industry using the ?group?? concept. Trade union sources said they anticipated owners would use the ploy of paying higher DA in some mills while leaving others untouched.
Meanwhile, jute trade unions today agreed not to enter into bilateral negotiation with a millowner. The trade unions have already submitted a charter of demand for long term wage settlement. The previous agreement expired last month.