The disruptive tactics of the BJP-led Himachal government, and the management of the Nathpa Jhakri Joint Venture (NJJV) notwithstanding, all efforts to break the unity of the workers have failed. Even after having reached an agreement with the workers, the NJJV management is still taking all possible steps to see that the CITU union amongst the workers is weakened and discredited. The NJJV management, has gone to such an extent that it is ready to suffer a loss of about Rs 700 crores, instead of settling the issue of workers rights as agreed to it in the agreement signed with the workers.

It will be recalled after more than six months of continuous struggle, the management of NJJV was forced to sign an agreement with the workers union on August 10. This followed numerous rounds of talks between the workers and the management, which continued for several weeks. According to the agreement, the retrenchment and chargesheets on all the workers were to be withdrawn, and on an average the workers were to get a hike of about 25 per cent in their wages, apart from the enforcement of labour laws.

The NJJV, which is jointly controlled by an Italian firm 'Imprecallo', and its Indian partner Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), is bent upon crushing the workers union. Such an authoritarian attitude of this firm has already delayed the project work considerably. A worker has been killed in firing by private security guards, and the local peasantry is reeling under the ecological threat posed by the project construction.

After the signing of the agreement, the NJJV management has not adhered to its promises, and is backing out of the agreement. The main point of dispute was the retrenchment of 138 workmen, which has now been referred to the court of law. After this the management has created a new problem by stating that it would send fresh letters to workers employed by it. In the mischievous move, it aims to scrap the seniority of at least 348 workmen, who would be taken on a fresh basis. This step of the management would provide it with the option of easy retrenchment, but the workers have refused to accept the said condition.

In another dangerous move, the NJJV management has terminated the services of 95 private security guards. These guards were employed for the security of the area where the execution work was going on. The terminated guards are presently sitting at an indefinite dharna outside the office of SDM Rampur.

Since February, the workers have been forced to spend Rs five lakh on the strike till now, but despite all the odds, their unity has been remarkable. The workers union of the CFJV (another firm engaged in project construction), have donated Rs 1.25 lakh to their fighting brothers.