Aditya Birla Group unit Jaya Shree Textiles resumed operations on Tuesday after a two-month long closure.
The unit, located at West Bengal’s Rishra area, operates as a division of Grasim, a group company. The unit had been closed since June 4 following a lightning strike called by the trade unions, who were protesting the suspension of some workers. The management, thereafter, declared a lockout on June 25. The unit employs 5,700 people.
Wage pact signed
The lockout notice linked the decision with worker indiscipline and militancy. A company source said that a tripartite wage pact had now been signed. This would result in an increase in daily wages and dearness allowance (with a ceiling). The management had also introduced productivity norms. The new wage pact would be for a five-year period — the prior three-year accord had expired in July.
There are eight operating unions in the 70-year-old unit which has been spinning linen yarn and fabric for three decades. It also makes worsted yarn from Merino wool.
The management also decided to take a lenient view of a majority of 14 employees, who had been suspended for causing unrest. However enquiries will be conducted for two of them who were directly involved in militancy and threatening of a shift-supervisor, a management source said.
