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HYDERABAD, July 29: The office-bearers of the Zeal Pak Cement Factory Employees Union (CBA), Hyderabad, have said that the problems of former employees of the factory are not being resolved due to the conspiracies of vested interests.
Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Monday, CBA union president Haji Sher Zaman and others said an agreement was signed between the then CBA union and the management of the factory on Dec 10, 1999, under which “B” colony houses, spread over more than 59 acres, were given to the employees as quid pro quo for the golden handshake amount.
They said houses valued at Rs110 million were given to the workers and to pay the dues of remaining employees, it was decided to sell the remaining houses and plots.
They, however, said that under a conspiracy, some vested interests constituted committees and took over the possession of vacant houses and plots.
The CBA office-bearers further said commercial land of the factory was illegally taken over by an official of the railway department, on which he constructed shops.
They pointed out that the conspirators had taken over the possession of vacant houses valued at Rs10 million.
Regarding the 242 cheques issued to the former employees which had been dishonoured by the bank, the CBA union leaders said action should be taken against those who had signed the cheques.
MANAGEMENT: However, the management of the factory denied the allegations of the former employees that the factory management had not paid their dues.
Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday, the managing director of the factory, M.A. Jalil and other officers said an agreement was signed between the factory management and the CBA union on Dec 10, 1999, under which houses, bungalows, hospital, fixtures and furniture on over 59 acres were transferred to the CBA under the golden handshake scheme as quid pro quo for their gratuity.
They said Rs10 million under the scheme were also given to the CBA vide a cheque dated April 26, 2000, for the payment to the workers.
When asked why were the cheques issued to the workers dishonoured by the bank, the managerial staff said the responsibility for this laid on the shoulders of the former CBA union.
WORKERS: Talking to Dawn, the former employees of the factory, who have been on hunger strike for the last 13 days, refuted the claim of the management that the former CBA union alone was responsible for issuing fake cheques.
They said the cheques had been signed by the former general secretary of the union and a representative of the management and added that both of them were responsible for the fraud.
They said the dishonoured cheques pertained to the factory account number 804-7 therefore the factory management was the main culprit.
They accused the managing director of the factory of misappropriating Rs130 million of the workers’ provident fund.
