With post-merger blues continuing for 1200-odd employees of BHEL Heavy Plates & Vessels Plant (erstwhile Bharat Heavy Plates & Vessels), the recognised union has stepped up efforts to hammer out a solution.
“As the issue is now sub judice, we are trying to sort it out by involving all and arriving at a consensus through out-of-court settlement. We are hopeful that by respecting the interest of all aggrieved parties and in the larger interest of all the employees, sooner we put an end to the uncertainty is better,” honorary president of CITU-affiliated BHPV Employees’ Union Ch. Narsinga Rao told The Hindu on Saturday.
BHPV, which ran into heavy losses, became the 17th unit of BHEL in 2013 following a peaceful struggle by the employees for putting it back on track.
However, the employees resented following the decision of the management to give them 2007 pay scales of BHEL without fitment and fixation in the lower grade after approval of Modified Rehabilitation Scheme (MDRS) on August 29, 2013.
The hopes of getting huge benefits post merger were dashed when the Appellate Authority for Industrial & Financial Reconstruction (AAIFR) in July, 2014 set MDRS aside on technical grounds. Questioning the order, the management later approached the Delhi High Court.
Now both the cases are under judicial scrutiny.
Due to the ambiguity, those retiring from August, 2015 after their superannuation age increased from 58 to 60 as per BHEL service rules will have to go at lower grade and without fitment.
For instance, those working as General Managers in BHPV were re-designated as Senior Managers after merger.
Those who approached AAIFR included the officers’ association, some retired employees and U and V series casual workers.
AAIFR in its ruling set aside the impugned order dated August 29, 2013 (which was signed on August 23, 2013) and remand the matter back to the BIFR with a direction to consider the whole matter afresh.
