Representatives of various industrial units went on a day-long hunger strike in front of the Collector's office protesting against their pending wage settlements. Union president Rajkumar Singh told Express Newsline that the hunger-strike was part of a national call.

The union, according to Singh, wanted changes in the ESIS laws to make it more worker-friendly. The union wanted the merger of the state-run ESIS and the one run by the central government, he said. By this change, the leader cliamed, the workers could avail of various medical benefits. The workers also demanded profit-linked bonus, he said adding that they wanted an abolition of the income ceiling for bonus and also a gratuity ceiling of Rs 1 lakh.

Linking the pension scheme with the price index would make it a workable scheme, they claimed.

Workers of IPCL, ABB, Petrofils, Heavy water project, ORG Systems, Sarabhai Machinery Gujarat Tractors, Golden Tobacco and many small engineering factories participated in the stir.