Strike from tomorrow will hit beedi production

The members of South Canara, Udupi District Beedi Contractors’ Union, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Beedi Contractors’ Association and Kasargod District Beedi Contractors have decided to take up strike and stop beedi production work from April 21 onwards.

Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, South Canara, Udupi District Beedi Contractors’ Union President K A Khader said that the contractors have taken the decision to stop the work as their continuous pleas to increase the commission to the beedi company owners have fallen on deaf ears. Though the beedi company owners have increased the salary of their workers from time to time, the contractors are neglected and their commission remains to be a meager amount.

With the sky-rocketing prices of all goods and services, the contractors find it difficult to manage their lives. Placing forth the demand, Khader said that the amount for collecting Rs 1,000 beedis which is Rs 6.90 should be increased to Rs 15 or they should be given at least 15 per cent of the salary of the beedi workers. Over 6,000 beedi contractors are expected to take part in the indefinite strike.