Fri May 16 11:11:14 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewritten news article based on it:
**Summary:**
Workers at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) are planning a strike due to alleged repressive measures by the RINL management, including salary cuts, terminations, and increased power tariffs. Unions believe the government is paving the way for privatization of VSP, possibly to Arcelor Mittal. Worker representatives are condemning actions against union leaders and warning of safety concerns due to workforce reductions. They have appealed to the Union Minister of Steel to intervene.
**News Article:**
**Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Workers to Strike Over Privatization Fears, Union Busting**
**VISAKHAPATNAM (May 16, 2025)** – Contract workers at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), will launch an indefinite strike beginning May 20th, while permanent employees will observe a one-day strike on the same day. The Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee (VUPPC) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) announced the action, citing what they call repressive measures by the RINL management.
“While we have been engaged in peaceful protests against the strategic sale of VSP for over four years, the management’s actions have left us with no other option,” stated Ch. Narasinga Rao, CITU State general secretary and VUPPC chairman. He pointed to the termination of contract worker services, a 25% reduction in salaries, non-payment of HRA, and increased power tariffs as reasons for the strike.
The unions also accuse the state government of prioritizing the interests of Arcelor Mittal, which is planning a new steel plant in Anakapalli district, over VSP by failing to advocate for iron ore mine allocation to the existing steel plant. “These actions indicate a plan to hand over VSP to Arcelor Mittal,” Narasinga Rao claimed.
The VUPPC is condemning the RINL management for issuing show-cause notices and suspension orders to several trade union leaders. “This is an attack on the rights of trade union activists,” Rao asserted, noting that several union leaders have been targeted.
The unions also warn that the drastic reduction in the workforce is leading to increasingly dangerous working conditions within the plant. They cited the MMSM department, where one worker is now responsible for overseeing multiple machines instead of just one, leading to safety hazards.
The VUPPC has sent a letter to Union Minister of Steel HD Kumaraswamy, urging him to intervene and protect the rights of the VSP workers. The strike is expected to severely impact operations at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
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