Hundreds of workers from JCT Mills, engaged in a prolonged struggle to claim their pending dues, convened a meeting at Thapar Colony here today.

Frustrated with the alleged inaction and collusion of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) with the mill management, the workers unanimously decided to form a new union, the JCT Mill Mazdoor Union. Ravi Sidhu was elected its president.

The workers criticised INTUC’s local leadership, accusing it of failing to advocate for their rights and instead siding with mill owners. They alleged that INTUC’s Phagwara unit president and officials had compromised by helping a select few workers secure partial dues while leaving the majority of the 3,000-strong workforce in the lurch.

The workers noted that when thousands of them gathered at the mill gates on November 12 to press for an FIR against the mill owners, INTUC’s local president was absent, further confirming suspicions of collusion.

The newly formed union appointed Sidhu as president. Sidhu subsequently announced the core leadership team: Chairman-Sunil Pandey; vice-president-Shardanand Singh;

general secretary-Naval Kishore Singh; secretary-Anil Mishra; treasurer-Dharmendra Singh; and media in-charge-Madan Kumar Mishra.

The executive committee also includes Tarun Sharma Lucky, Jasvir Jassi, Ram Ishwar Kumar and several others. Women leaders Pushpa Devi, Geeta Tiwari and Riddhi Devi have also been included to ensure broader representation.