Bata sacks employees

Bata India Ltd's effort to make its operations more efficient came under threat after about 680 officers and managers of the company who had formed a group recently reportedly stopped work at its Batanagar factory in response to termination of five workshop managers some time ago.

Bata responded through a press release, stating, "It is unfortunate we have had to part ways with the employees in question at the Batanagar factory. It has been a tough decision for us. We had lost confidence in their performance and could not see any improvement in future. In view of the challenging task ahead of us in trying to bring back the factory to an acceptable performance level, we, at this point of time, expect all our employees should work together for the benefit of the company, which will secure the future of all our employees."

The strikers demanded the five managers be taken back. Members of the Bata Mazdoor Union said the move would have no immediate effect on the functioning of the factory. Production would decline and then halt if the strike continued for more than three days.

The managerial level staff and 'incharge' officers supervise movement of goods from one department to another. They were also in charge of receiving goods from outside.

These functions were likely to be affected in the absence of any manning in these areas. In the absence of raw material being received after checks for production, production would stall at the unit.