GlaxoSmithKline workers plan indefinite strike

The workers union of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals, Nashik, is planning to go on an indefinite strike after the failure of talks with the management over salary increase.

The union has already served a strike notice to the company management. Meanwhile, the Internal Workers Union (IWU) of the company will hold a secret ballot of the company workers July 20, 2006, to take final decision on strike.

The Nashik unit of GSK Pharmaceuticals, which is located at Ambad Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), manufactures healthcare products and has 662 permanent workers and 175 temporary workers on rolls.

Speaking to Business Standard, Parag Kambli, president, GSK Workers Union said, "Our last long-term (Four years') salary agreement ended on December 31, 2004. We had handed over the proposal of the salary agreement immediately after the end of the last agreement. But, the company management has still not taken decision in this regard. Around 17 rounds of talks were held with the management, but the settlement was not reached between the union and the company management."

Kambli added, "We have demanded a salary increment from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500 per month (in different ranges), while the company management has offered the increment from Rs 900 to Rs 2,450 per month only. We refused the proposal and decided to go on an indefinite strike and served a strike notice to the company management."

Dinkar Pagar, deputy Labour Commissioner, Nashik, during our meeting with the company management held in his principal presence, had directed us to hold secret ballot of the company workers before going on strike.

Accordingly, we are holding secret ballot of the company workers tomorrow (July 20, 2006) and final decision on indefinite strike will be taken thereafter," Kambli said.