Gujarat government to recognise Tata Motors union

The Gujarat government is likely to allow striking workers at Tata Motors’ Nano factory in Sanand, to register a union, which will be recognised by the State labour department.

The State labour department, which had earlier declared the three-week-old strike illegal, changed its strategy on Monday to deal with workers, who are getting support from over 20 other labour unions in the State.

“The recognition process of the union of Nano factory will be completed in a month or so,” Suresh Patel, assistant labour commissioner, told reporters in Ahmedabad.

On Saturday, around 22 trade unions across the State had pledged support to the striking workers of Tata Motors alleging the company had taken punitive action against those who were leading the workers to form a workmen’s union at the site. Trade union leaders had threatened a state-wide civil disobedience movement if the workers’ democratic rights were compromised.

“Soon after a union was formed last month at Tata Motors’ Sanand plant, the company suspended two workers on grounds of alleged indiscipline and two days later, fired 26 more workers for their protest,” said Ashim Roy, vice-president of the National Trade Union Initiative, who is advising the workers.

On Monday, more than 384 workers were detained by the police during a rally in Ahmedabad. The workers were on their way to meet the Ahmedabad collector.