Bokaro: In a show of growing frustration with the SAIL BSL (Bokaro Steel Plant) management’s failure to address long-standing worker demands, employees from the Coke-Oven and Coke-Chemicals Department at Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) have announced plans for a large-scale protest on 7 March. The demonstration is set to focus on the ongoing neglect of worker welfare and safety concerns by the plant’s management.
On Saturday, workers gathered outside the Chief General Manager’s office to voice their discontent and stand in solidarity ahead of the planned protest.
The demonstration was led by Rajendra Singh, General Secretary of KIMS and a member of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCS), who condemned the management for failing to honor commitments made in previous meetings.
Singh expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation, highlighting the lack of progress on promised medical checkups and the worsening conditions of workers who are struggling to access basic healthcare. He pointed out that hundreds of workers, now without jobs, are being denied essential medical support, with skilled workers left out of the ESIC scheme and deprived of treatment options.
In addition to the healthcare crisis, Singh accused the management of exploitation, citing the inadequate handling of the Additional Work Allowance (AWA) and neglect of workers’ safety. He criticized the management’s response to frequent workplace accidents, claiming that instead of addressing the issue, officers are focused on covering up incidents rather than safeguarding employees.
The protestors also drew attention to the stark contrast between the lavish incentives enjoyed by the management and the dire conditions faced by permanent workers. Despite their hard work, the workers continue to endure exploitation and neglect, with little to show for their efforts.
Singh made it clear that the workers would no longer accept empty promises, vowing to escalate their actions. “Now there will be war, not pleas. Only struggle will bring the solution,” he declared, announcing plans to block the coke ovens and blast furnaces on 7 March as part of their protest.
The demonstration was supported by other union leaders, including RK Singh, Shashi Bhushan, Jumman Khan, Hareram, Nagendra Kumar, Amit Yadav, Siraj Ahmed, and Tuntun Singh, all of whom reinforced the message of unity and collective action. Singh urged workers to remain strong and united, emphasizing that their solidarity was the key to securing their rights and achieving victory.
As tensions continue to rise at the Bokaro Steel Plant, the scheduled protest on 7 March is expected to draw significant attention to the growing unrest among workers and their demands for fair treatment and better working conditions.
