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Breakthrough in BALCO deadlock in sight

A breakthrough in the deadlock at the Bharat Aluminium Company appears to be in sight after the Supreme Court asked the employees whether they were ready to join work on payment of two months' advance salary and the agitating unions indicated their willingness to reciprocate.

Shortly after the court's direction, the management of the privatised aluminium giant declared that its priority was to bring normalcy even if it meant bearing an additional financial burden.

Hearing petitions on the privatisation dispute, the court asked the unions to tell it by May 8 about the willingness of the employees, who are striking since March 2, to join duty.

Brahma Singh, a leader of the BALCO Sanyukt Abhiyan Samiti [Joint Action Committee] said they would have to obey the Supreme Court's order, but a final decision would be taken after consulting others.

Meanwhile Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi said the workers would have to decide the issue on their own.

Anil Aggarwal, chairman of Sterlite Industries, which bought the majority stake in BALCO for Rs 551.5 crore [Rs 5.515 billion], said, "We were asked to give an undertaking that there would be no retrenchment and that we would give two months' advance salary. We have done this. Now our top priority is to start work at BALCO."

PTI

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