GUWAHATI, Aug 20 - With no support coming from the authorities, the contractual staff of Brahmaputra Ashok Hotel, who are likely to lose their jobs once when the hotel closes down on August 31, will launch a strike on Monday.
The Assam Tourism Development Corporation, which took over the hotel on July 1, plans to convert it into a State guest house-cum-convention centre. The government has decided to offer severance package (VRS) to the 56 permanent employees of the hotel, but nothing has been offered to the contractual staff.
�The management of the hotel as well as the government did not pay any heed to the legitimate rights of 48 contractual employees serving in the hotel while taking the decision. We are performing the same and similar nature of works of the permanent employees,� the strike notice to the management by the agitating staff stated. The administration has allowed the agitating staff to hold a sit-in stir at Dighalipukhuripar from 11 am to 1 pm.
The employees had earlier written a letter to the HR Manager of the Hotel, seeking relevant documents regarding their appointment so that they can weigh legal options. But the management refused. However, the management agreed to comply to the demand only after an RTI application was filed by the staff seeking the documents.
The contractual staff have also petitioned the Labour Commissioner, but there has been no response so far.
It is learnt that the ATDC management has been trying to put pressure on the contractual staff so that the Corporation does not face any embarrassing situation.
The iconic hotel was set up 1987. There are two State guesthouses in the city. One has been occupied by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and another by his successor, Sarbananda Sonowal.
