Tuba workers threaten strike for Saturday

Majority of the agitating Tuba workers refused to take two months' back pays offered by the owners and threatened to enforce a strike in all the apparel units next Saturday as the starter of a tougher movement  unless their five-point demand is met today (Thursday).

Meanwhile, police Wednesday stormed the Tuba factory building where the workers have been on a fast-unto-death to realise their demand for clearing all their back pays and bonus.           

The workers rejected BGMEA offer to clear two months' wage arrears Wednesday, though police allegedly brought in a few who took the pays.      

But the unpaid workers of five apparel factories of Tuba Group under the banner of Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee insisted the owners must clear wages for May, June and July along with overtime bills and festival bonus on the factory premises on a single date.

Failing to brief reporters about their latest movements because of police interception, convener of the Sangram Committee Mushrefa Mishu informed newsmen about their programme in writing from the 6th floor of Hossain Supermarket, which houses three units of Tuba Group.

On that floor of the building the demonstrators have been observing hunger strike since July 27 night.

As per the announced programme, protest rally will also be held at the apparel industrial hubs today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) to mount pressure on the BGMEA leaders and the government to settle the ongoing trouble created over the payment of workers' dues.

Contacted over the mobile phone, Mushrefa Mishu, also president of Garment Workers Unity Forum, told the FE that police entered the building several times and brought out few workers, forcing them to go to the BGMEA office to take wages of two months.

She said several agitating workers fell sick critically on the day as police did not allow any doctors and supply of saline from the early hours.

"Police played the role of musclemen of owners as a number of our activists, who supplied saline and healthcare kits, were arrested and injured also," she alleged.    

She also said the workers rejected the BGMEA offer as more than 1,200 workers now remained confined to the factory house.

Organiser of the Sangram Committee Joly Talukder said the workers found the entrances locked when they woke up in the morning.

"This is police who locked all the gates of the building," she claimed.

Rejecting the claim, Inspector (investigation) of Badda Police Station Kamrul Faruk said the agitating workers under the influence of the leaders of Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee locked the gates.

However, the protestors were found confined inside the building in the morning as police allowed no one in throughout the day citing instruction from their higher authorities.

Leaders of several workers' groups like Jago Bangladesh Garment Sramik Federation, Garment Sramik Sanghati Federation, and Garment Workers-Employees League were seen calling upon the agitating workers to accept the BGMEA offer.

Chases and counter-chases also ensued between activists of left parties, who expressed their solidarity with the ongoing agitation, and leaders and activists of the labour groups backing the offer of the owners' association.

After 11:30am, police started entering Hossain Market and was seen driving out at least 20 people, terming them outsiders.

The law enforcers also charged baton on them. The police action left at least 10 people, including Jonayed Saki, coordinator of Gonotantrik Baam Morcha, and Biplobi Workers' Party general secretary Saiful Haque, injured.

Talking to the FE, an operator of Taif Design Asma Akhter, who went out of the building at about 1:30pm due to her family affairs, said they were not forced to observe hunger strike.

"We'll not take wages and other financial benefits from the BGMEA office. We work for Tuba Group. Then why we would take due payments from the BGMEA," she said.

Another worker of the same unit, Shamima Khatun, said a section of workers' leaders have started putting pressure over the family members of the agitating workers to accept BGMEA offer.

"But we'll not accept it at all. We want full payments, including festival allowances and overtime bills," she added to reaffirm their stance.  

Around 1,600 workers of the five Tuba Group factories have been on a hunger strike for straight 10 days at the Badda factory to press for payment of three months' salaries, overtime dues and allowances.

Their five demands are: immediate payment of unpaid wages, overtime and Eid bonuses, keeping factories open so that nearly 1,600 workers can retain their livelihood, compensation for workers who have fallen ill, 'cancellation' of Tuba Group Managing Director Delwar Hossain's bail and compensation for the victims of Tazreen Fashions fire.    

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said they would continue to disburse wages to Tuba Group workers and employees today (Thursday) also as there was very poor response from the workers on Wednesday.

In a press conference held at the BGMEA office on Wednesday evening, the apex apparel trade body president, Atiqul Islam, said some 323 Tuba workers drew their two months' wages until evening out of around 1,458.

An employee of BGMEA said that among the 323, most of them are employees and officials. There were very few workers who collected the wages.  

According to BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, the poor response was due to a heavy rain since Wednesday morning and outsiders' interference from coming to BGMEA office to collect wages.

BGMEA has kept five buses ready to bring the workers to the association office since morning but workers showed very little interest to come.

"We came to know that the workers, who went to the factory to collect their passes, have been stopped from coming by outsiders," said BGMEA President at the press briefing.

In a written speech, BGMEA President Mr Islam said it is not BGMEA's responsibility to give wages to the workers. "But we have extended our cooperation to Tuba Group workers on humanitarian ground."

He said, "We will keep our office open for the Tuba workers up to 6 pm today (Thursday). We hope all workers will come here and collect their wages."

BGMEA President also said the owner would provide the wages of July on August 10.

"Mr. Delwar promised us to provide wages of July on August 10 and the owner would certainly do it," he said.

Replying to a question, Atiqul Islam said they will not give festival allowance as there was no work in the month of July.

"There is obligation of giving festival bonus, if there is work," he added.

He urged politicians to keep politics away from the apparel sector.

The president alleged that outsiders have been confusing workers there and government must take steps against those outsiders.

The BGMEA had earlier announced its decision to initially pay the Tuba Group workers two months' wages in place of their three months' withheld payments and festival bonuses.

It had also urged them to withdraw their hunger strike, but the protesting workers rejected the appeal.