Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited (HEC), one of the oldest public sector undertakings (PSUs) of the country, released 50 per cent of a month's salary for over 3,000 employees, a large section of which, however, vowed to continue their strike to push the management to clear at least half of the dues accumulating since June.

Bhawan Singh, chief of Hatia Mazdoor Union, said, “The strike is on and it’s a do or die situation for us. Our families are starving. Unless half of the pending months' salaries are released immediately, we will not reconsider our decision to continue the agitation. We are ready to do all that is needed to achieve production targets, but can’t do it with empty stomachs.”

HEC’s spokesperson Abhay Kant confirmed the release of 50 per cent of the June salary to the media, stating that the management was working to address the crisis on a war footing.

HEC workers have been on a tool down strike since December 2, paralysing all three of the beleagured PSU's key production units to demand payment of salary arears. The agitation was on its 12th day on Monday and was unlikely to be called off any time soon.

The HEC management has promised to disburse the remaining 50 per cent of the June salary by this month-end.

HEC marketing director Rana Chakravarty met the striking workers in the morning to persuade them to return to work. Chakravarty has been trying to hold talks with them for the last few days.

Last week, MD Nalin Singhal rushed to Ranchi to hold talks with the striking workers. But his efforts did not help.

The ongoing workers' stir has received support from officers of the company who have not been paid too. “The situation of HEC is worrisome as neither workers nor officers are getting salaries," remarked a senior HEC official. "Although HEC has several work orders, at least to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore from defence and the railways, it is confronted with a problem of working capital. In the event of delayed production, the situation will get further complicated," he added.