Andhra Paper has resumed manufacturing operations following the revocation of the lockout

Andhra Paper has resumed manufacturing operations following the revocation of the lockout

The Pulp and Paper Times
A prominent player in the paper and pulp industry, Andhra Paper Limited (APL) has resumed manufacturing activity in their plant after calling off of the illegal strike.

In a letter to BSE, APL mentioned,”we wish to inform that the management and all the trade unions representatives have arrived at an amicable settlement to end the deadlock.”

Therefore, the management has revoked the lockout at the Company’s manufacturing unit at Rajahmundry, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh with effect from January 7, 2025 06.00 AM. The workers have reported to work as per their shift schedules and resumed their duties.

Earlier, In a letter dated January 3, 2025, wherein Andhra Paper Ltd had informed that operations of the Manufacturing plant situated at Unit: Rajahmundry has been disrupted due to strike of workers called by the Workers Trade Unions w.e.f. January 03, 2025. The local administration is seized of the matter and the dispute has been referred to the industrial tribunal for adjudication.

Therefore, the Management appealed to the workmen to call off the strike as the strike is now deemed illegal and leading to loss of production and requested them to resume their duties. However, the workmen are continuing the strike and didn’t resume duties until January 5, 2024.

Considering the prevailing situation and keeping in mind the safety of employees, plant and machinery, materials and other assets, the management has declared a lockout with effect from January 6, 2025 at 06.00 AM at the Rajahmundry unit to prevent any untoward incident and it shall continue till further notice in this regard.

According to The Hindu, Nearly 1,750 contract and 450 permanent workers have been on the strike since January 4, seeking increase in their wages. The workers are being supported by the 11 trade unions, including APL Janasena Trade Union, APPM Karmika Sangam and Andhra Paper Mill’s Workers Union (AITUC). The APL Management had declared the lockout for the second time within a year on the issue. 

In an official release on January 6 (Monday), APL vice-president A. Jayakrishna has stated; “The contract workers have launched the strike on January 4. The strike is illegal. They have been obstructing operational activities, leading to the closure of the mill operations. The lockout has been issued on January 6 and it has been communicated to the State and the district authorities”.
 

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