Jamshedpur, May 18: Over 800 workers of the underground Surda mines of Hindustan Copper in Ghatshila have been on strike for the third day running to demand a hike in minimum wages.

Company officials said for the last three days, production of copper ore had suffered. The daily produce from Surda mines, run by Australian mining firm India Resources (IRL), was 1,200 tonnes of copper ore that helps in the production of copper concentrate, which is the finished product.

Rakeshwar Pandey, president of Mosabani Mines Employees Union, the recognised Intuc-affiliated union, said, "Of the 800 striking workers, as many as 235 have been at the underground mines for the last three days. I could not initiate talks with the management as I was away. We need to take up the issue both with IRL, the outsourced agency as well as HCL, the principal employer."

He said the workers' demands were justified as they had been deprived of a hike in minimum wages even though the Centre announced it earlier in the year.

Functionaries of Jharkhand Mazdoor Copper Union, another leading union of HCL supported the Surda mines strike.

"The workers should get their rightful dues. When the Union government has already announced a revision in minimum wages, why shouldn't the workers not get it,' questioned D. P. Mukherjee, a senior functionary of the union.

HCL shut down six copper mines under ICC in Ghatshila in a phased manner early in 2000 due to viability issues. As of now, the only operational mine is Surda which supplies copper concentrate to the ICC unit at Moubhandar in Ghatshila.