KOLKATA/NAGPUR: Production of defence materiel like ammunition, rifles, artillery guns, tanks and aerial bombs came to a standstill after three unions operating across all the 41 ordnance factories in India jointly went on a month-long strike from Tuesday. 

All unions, including Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh — the trade union wing of RSS — have threatened to continue the strike till September 19 after talks with government failed. According to figures available with the Ordnance Factory Board, only about 10% of employees (below officer rank) turned up for work at the factories. 

The agitation by nearly 82,000 permanent employees and 40,000 temporary staff of the ordnance factories under the three outfits — All-India Defence Employees’ Federation, Indian National Defence Workers’ Federation and Bhartiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh — are agitating against a decision by the Centre to corporatise the ordnance factories.