The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) has demanded measures to settle the labour problem at Pricol Limited here through negotiations. It also demanded the withdrawal of cases “foisted” on the union members following the death of Roy J. George, vice-president (human resources), of the company recently.
“What happened at Pricol was unfortunate and regrettable. The unions were not responsible for the incident. Only the attitude of the management led to the violence,” the union said in a release.
According to the release, the AICCTU was recognised by the Central and State governments. As many as six workers who formed the Kovai Mavatta Pricol Labour Trade Union and Kovai Mavatta Pricol Employees Trade Union were transferred and the workers protested against it a couple of years ago.
Though the workers were ready for talks, the management said they should not be part of the particular trade union. About 1,500 workers who were not made permanent for the last 20 years lost their jobs for forming the union, the release alleged.
Now, the management had been deducting up to Rs.1,000 a month from the salary paid to each worker. It cited the loss incurred by the company as the reason. It issued dismissal orders to 42 workers of the Kuniamuthur unit last week. The union said the government should protect the workers’ interests and sought a judicial inquiry on the suppressive measures against the workers.
Kovai Mavatta Pricol Trade Union legal advisor Lakshmana Narayana told reporters here on Friday that the management was instrumental for the problems and the current situation in the company. “Unions are not the reason for it,” he said. The union also condemned the attack on George. The government should take over the unit. The workers should be treated properly. The union representatives were trying to meet the Chief Minister, he said.
