Members of the Tata Marcopolo Krantikari Karmik Union took out a protest rally in Dharwad on Sunday, demanding wage revision, among others.
Workers walked to the Deputy Commissioner’s office holding flags and banners in their hands and shouted slogans.
They said that the company has not revised wages of over 1,200 workers for over two years now. These workers are working in the bus building plant for over 14 years but their average wages range between ₹18,000 and ₹23,000. However, the wages of all white collar workers have been revised regularly.
It has become very difficult for the ordinary workers to lead a decent life as the cost of most essential commodities has gone up several times in the last few years.
“The management has not revised our wages, despite several pleas. The management has not changed its mind despite the 79 rounds of meetings with workers. It has failed to agree to a wage revision even in the meeting held by the Labour Minister. What is more, the company has dismissed seven workers for the reason that they were involved in union activities. The company has not reinstated them despite the orders of the Labour Court. Instead, the company has gone in appeal against the orders. The company has reduced the wages of some workers for failing to turn up for work during the epidemic,” they said.
Their other demands include extending health benefits to family members of workers, to extend transport facilities to 60 km around the factory, improving the quality of food and hygiene in the canteen and to stop what they said harassment of workers.
The company issued a release saying that it is working on an agreement. “Tata Marcopolo is committed to strengthening this association by fostering relationships based on trust, collaboration, discipline, and mutual respect. Accordingly, upon receipt of the charter of demands from the union, several rounds of negotiations were held, which unfortunately and despite the best efforts, did not result in a mutually agreeable wage settlement. Hence, appropriate government authorities have initiated conciliation and are currently actively engaged in it. The company is extending its fullest cooperation in this endeavour and remains hopeful that a suitable agreement to support the plant’s competitiveness, long-term growth and sustainability will soon be in place,’’ the release said.
