Cashew nut workers to strike work from May 16

Srikakulam: The workers of cashew nut processing units have planned to observe indefinite strike from May 16 demanding hike in their wages. Over 400 cashew processing units in Palasa town and Mandasa mandal are providing employment to 20,000 workers.

Cashew crop is being cultivated in seven mandals in two lakh acres extent and normal yielding in the total extent is 8 lakh bags of cashew nuts. As per agreement for every two years processing units' managements must hike their salaries. Based on it, workers already submitted their demands to cashew units' owners.

Workers are demanding 35 per cent hike in their wages but the units' owners agreed to hike six per cent in first round of talks. Owners are saying that cashew nuts yield affected due to Titli and Fani cyclones as a result raw nuts availability reduced in quantity. In addition to it, they are claiming the power charges and other expenditure also increased.

Workers are saying that prices of all essential commodities are increasing every year and unable to meet their family requirements. Workers already submitted strike notices to cashew manufacturers, deputy commissioner of labour department and police also. If strike is imminent, 20,000 workers will lose their wages affecting the production.

"Owners of cashew nut processing units are not giving any bonus or share to workers from their profits. They have to hike wages for every two years otherwise we will go for strike," workers union leaders A Krishna Murthy and K Simhachalam said.