LML subsidiary workers begin protest

The LML agreement between the workers and the management may get stuck due to the protest of a section of the workers of the company's subsidiary.

The workers are alleged to have broken the 18-year-old "no union activity" rule imposed in the area in 1989 by the UP government.

Industrial Electronics, a subsidiary of LML with 317 workers manufacturing electronic parts for scooters and motor cycles, is spread over three locations in the Dadanagar Industrial Area, adjacent to the Panki Industrial Estate, where the LML scooter factory is located.

In January last year the production in the parent plant ceased and after the imposition of the lock-out, in March last year the management started taking out the machinery from all the three locations of the factory. While two factories were completely stripped of all assets by the management, the third was partly stripped.

The workers were not informed of the decision; as a result of this, they went on a dharna about nine days ago and prevented the remaining machines from being taken out.

While the management entered into an agreement with a friendly union, these workers were not consulted. LML Director RK Srivastava told Business Standard the firm planned to relocate the factory and would bring it on the premises of the scooter factory.

The agreement hammered out with the LML union would be applicable to Industrial Electronics workers too. Those "laid off" will be paid 50 per cent of the salary for each month.

First they will get one-fourth of the salary, the other one-fourth to be paid later after the BIFR has sanctioned the scheme and the money for this purpose has been received by the company.

Barring few workers, most of the workers of the unit rejected it, demanding instead their pending wages of the 14-month period, when the factory was locked out, along with all other statutory dues.

A worker even went on a fast unto death. The workers have been holding traffic blockades for the last three days for half an hour daily. However, yesterday, emboldened by the presence of other supporters, the trade union and the workers sat on a dharna at the Dadanagar crossing. The location was blocked for more than an hour.

The circle officer of the area and the additional city magistrate then pacified the workers, assuring them that the management, city officials and the labour department along with workers would sit together to sort things out.